te him
discouraging accounts early in the winter, and was now installed in
some fashionable hotel. The best and quickest way to find her would be
to telephone the Burgess office. He wondered if she would be willing to
throw up at once everything--the theatre, her future contracts and
all--to marry him without delay. If he could have his way, he would
like to return West with her that same day. They could leave on the
Limited and get married in Chicago.

In less than fifteen minutes the Waldorf was reached, a room engaged,
and Madison already had the office of Burgess & Co. on the telephone.

"Hello! Can you give me the private address of Miss Laura Murdock?"

"We don't give private addresses," was the curt reply.

This difficulty Madison had not foreseen, but his quick wit came to his
aid, and in his most persuasive tone, he said:

"I'm sure you will, when you know the circumstances. I am a personal
friend--I might say, relative, of Miss Murdock. I've just got in from
Chicago. She expects me, but I've mislaid her address."

"Oh--that's different," said the voice more civilly. "There's so many
Johnnies around that we have to be careful. Miss Murdock is at the
Pomona, West ---- Street."

Madison did not wait to eat or anything else. Jumping into the first
taxicab he saw, he said:

"West ---- Street."

A few minutes later the cab drew up before the rather imposing entrance
of the Pomona Apartments. Dismissing the taxi, he turned to the
uniformed attendant, who stood surveying the weather-tanned six-footer
with some respect. Judging by his clothes, the new arrival looked as if
he had done some traveling.

"Is Miss Murdock in?"

"I'll see, sir. Who shall I say?"

"Mr. Madison." Airily, he added: "Miss Murdock expects me."

A moment later the man returned, and politely ushered him into an
elevator lined with mirrors, and luxuriously upholstered in red satin.
At the fifth floor, the smooth-running car stopped, and the attendant
pointed to an apartment across the corridor. Before Madison could reach
the door, it was thrown wide open. There was a wild rush of rustling
silks and white lace, a woman's stifled sob, and Laura was in his arms.

"Oh, John!" she cried almost hysterically, as the door closed behind
him. "I'm so happy!"

For a moment he held her clasped tightly to him, as if afraid some one
else might appear in this strange apartment to rob him of her. This was
the supreme moment for which he had toile