talked to me like Dutch uncles, and my chum kept at it till I gave him
my word that I'd never attempt anything of the sort again."

"You were just an unhappy boy," she said, as if thinking aloud, "with
all life before you and many friends to back you up."

"And you," he suggested, "are just an unhappy girl with all life before
you. I don't know anything about your friends, but I'll wager you've got
a lot of them."

She shook her head.

"Not one," she said, slowly. "I mean, not one I dare to call on, now."

"I like that! You've got me to call on, right here."

This time she really smiled at him. It was a pathetic little smile, but
both lips and eyes took part in it. He waited, but she said no more. He
began to fear that his confidence had been given to no purpose.
Evidently she had no intention of making a confession in return. He
resumed his attack from a new angle.

"You've been disappointed in something or some one," he said. "Oh," as
she made a gesture, "don't think I'm belittling it! I know it was
something big. But the finish you chose wasn't meant to be, or it would
have come off. You see that, don't you? The very sun in its course took
pains to show you to me in time to stop it. That means something, Miss
Mayo."

She seemed slightly startled.

"It is Miss Mayo, isn't it? That's the name the elevator boy gave me,
yesterday."

"It will do." She spoke absently, already on the trail of another
thought. Suddenly she caught it.

"Then you brought the basket, or sent it?" she cried. "It was _you!_ How
dared you!"

She had half risen from her chair. Bending across the table, he gently
pushed her back into it.

"Sit down," he said, imperturbably.

She hesitated, and he repeated the command, this time almost curtly.
Under the new tone she obeyed.

"I'm going to tell you something," he went on. "I've exhausted my
slender resources of experience and tact. I don't know what any one else
would do in this situation; but I do know what I'm going to do myself.
And, what is a lot more important, I know what you're going to do."

She laughed, and he winced at the sound.

"That's easy," she said. "I'm going to finish the act you interrupted."

"Oh, no, you're not!"

Her lips set.

"Do you imagine you can prevent me?"

"I know I can."

His quiet assurance impressed her.

"How?" she asked, half mockingly.

"Very easily. I can take you from this restaurant to the nearest police
station, and have you l