ing down a bit gives you a kind
of look. No wonder Mertoun puts in his best licks on your clothes."

"Which reminds me that I've neglected even Mertoun," smiled Banneker.

"Go ahead in, will you? I've got to bone some feller for a fresh collar.
My cousin's in there somewhere. Mrs. Rogerson Lyle from Philadelphia.
She's a pippin in pink. Go in and tell on yourself, and order her a
cocktail."

Seeking to follow the vague direction, Banneker turned to the left and
entered a dim side room. No pippin in pink disclosed herself. But a
gracious young figure in black was bending over a table looking at a
magazine, the long, free curve of her back turned toward him. He
advanced. The woman said in a soft voice that shook him to the depths of
his soul:

"Back so soon, Archie? Want Sis to fix your tie?"

She turned then and said easily: "Oh, I thought you were my
brother.... How do you do, Ban?"

Io held out her hand to him. He hardly knew whether or not he took it
until he felt the close, warm pressure of her fingers. Never before had
he so poignantly realized that innate splendor of femininity that was
uniquely hers, a quality more potent than any mere beauty. Her look met
his straight and frankly, but he heard the breath flutter at her lips,
and he thought to read in her eyes a question, a hunger, and a delight.
His voice was under rigid control as he said:

"I didn't know you were to be here, Mrs. Eyre."

"I knew that you were," she retorted. "And I'm not Mrs. Eyre, please.
I'm Io."

He shook his head. "That was in another world."

"Oh, Ban, Ban!" she said. Her lips seemed to cherish the name that they
gave forth so softly. "Don't be a silly Ban. It's the same world, only
older; a million years older, I think.... I came here only because you
were coming. Are you a million years older, Ban?"

"Unfair," he said hoarsely.

"I'm never unfair. I play the game." Her little, firm chin went up
defiantly. Yes: she was more lovely and vivid and desirable than in the
other days. Or was it only the unstifled yearning in his heart that made
her seem so? "Have you missed me?" she asked simply.

He made no answer.

"I've missed you." She walked over to the window and stood looking out
into the soft and breathing murk of the night. When she came back to
him, her manner had changed. "Fancy finding you here of all places!" she
said gayly.

"It isn't such a bad place to be," he said, relieved to meet her on the
new ground.

"