for the conversation. Don't I get a
'Good-morning,' or a 'How-dy-do,' or a something of that sort?"

"I'm tired, Elfie, and blue--terribly blue."

The caller rose, and, going up to her friend, said:

"Well, now, you just brace up and cut out all that emotional stuff. I
came down to take you for a drive. You'd like it; just through the
park. Will you go?"

"Not this morning, dear; I'm expecting somebody."

"A man?"

In spite of herself, Laura could not restrain a smile.

"No--a gentleman," she corrected.

"Same thing. Do I know him?"

"I think you do."

"Well, don't be so mysterious. Who is he?"

Ignoring the question, Laura asked anxiously:

"What is your time, Elfie?"

The girl looked at her watch. "Five minutes past eleven."

"I'm slow," exclaimed Laura. "I didn't know it was so late. Just excuse
me, won't you, while I get some clothes on. He may be here any moment."
Going to the end of the room, where the heavy _portieres_ separated the
parlor from the sitting-room, she called out: "Annie!"

"Who is it?" insisted Elfie.

"I'll tell you when I get dressed. Make yourself at home, won't you,
dear?"

"I'd sooner hear," replied Elfie. "What is the scandal, anyway?"

"I'll tell you in a moment," laughed Laura; "just as soon as Annie gets
through with me."

She went out, leaving her visitor alone. Elfie, left to herself,
wandered about the room. Finding a candy box on the desk, she helped
herself to the sugared contents. Aloud, she said:

"Do you know, Laura, I think I'll go back on the stage?"

"Yes?" came the answer from the inner room.

"Yes," went on Elfie, "I'm afraid I'll have to. I think I need a sort
of a boost to my popularity."

"How a boost?"

"I think Jerry is getting cold feet. He's seeing a little too much of
me nowadays."

"What makes you think that?"

"I think he is getting a relapse of that front-row habit. There's no
use in talking, Laura, it's a great thing for a girl's credit when a
man like Jerry can take two or three friends to the theatre, and when
you make your entrance delicately point to you with his forefinger, and
say: 'The third one from the front on the left belongs to muh.' The old
fool's hanging around some of these musical comedies lately, and I'm
getting nervous every time rent day comes."

Laura laughed incredulously. She had too high an opinion of her
friend's business ability to believe the danger very serious.
Pointedly, she said:

"Oh, I guess yo