tly. "Which I am to take as fair warning that,
unless I rise above my present lowly estate, that waxing young star,
Miss Raleigh, will no longer--"

"Ban! What right have you to think me a wretched little snob?"

"None in the world. It's I that am the snob, for even thinking about it.
Just the same, what you said about 'only a reporter or something' struck
in."

"But in a few years from now you won't be a reporter."

"Shall I still be privileged to invite Miss Raleigh to supper--or was it
tea?"

"You're still angry. That isn't fair of you when I'm being so frank. I'm
going to be even franker. I'm feeling that way to-night. Comes of being
tired, I suppose. Relaxing of the what-you-callems of inhibition. Do you
know there's a lot of gossip about us, back of stage?"

"Is there? Do you mind it?"

"No. It doesn't matter. They think I'm crazy about you." Her clear,
steady eyes did not change expression or direction.

"You're not; are you?"

"No; I'm not. That's the strange part of it."

"Thanks for the flattering implication. But you couldn't take any
serious interest in a mere reporter, could you?" he said wickedly.

This time Betty laughed. "Couldn't I! I could take serious interest in a
tumblebug, at times. Other times I wouldn't care if the whole race of
men were extinct--and that's most times. I feel your charm. And I like
to be with you. You rest me. You're an asset, too, in a way, Ban;
because you're never seen with any woman. You're supposed not to care
for them.... You've never tried to make love to me even the least little
bit, Ban. I wonder why."

"That sounds like an invitation, but--"

"But you know it isn't. That's the delightful part of you; you do know
things like that."

"Also I know better than to risk my peace of mind."

"Don't lie to me, my dear," she said softly. "There's some one else."

He made no reply.

"You see, you don't deny it." Had he denied it, she would have said: "Of
course you'd deny it!" the methods of feminine detective logic being so
devised.

"No; I don't deny it."

"But you don't want to talk about her."

"No."

"It's as bad as that?" she commiserated gently. "Poor Ban! But you're
young. You'll get over it." Her brooding eyes suddenly widened. "Or
perhaps you won't," she amended with deeper perceptiveness. "Have you
been trying me as an anodyne?" she demanded sternly.

Banneker had the grace to blush. Instantly she rippled into laughter.

"I've never seen y