tore. When she did so she saw a little tableau,
unobserved by the busy clerks and customers, which made her heart stand
still.

Lorna was standing by one of the bon-bon show cases talking to a tall
stranger who ogled her in bold fashion, and a manner which indicated
that the conversation was far from that of business.

"Who can that be?" thought Mary. An intuition of danger crept over her
as she watched the shades of sinister suggestion on the face of the man
who whispered to her sister.

The man was urging, Lorna half-protesting, as though refusing some
enticing offer.

Mary stepped closer, and the deep tones of the stranger's voice filled
her with a thrill of loathing. It was a voice which she felt she could
never forget as long as she lived.

[Illustration: The deep tones of the stranger's voice filled her with a
thrill of loathing.]

"Come up to my office with me when you finish work and I'll book you up
this very evening. The show will open in two weeks, and I will give
you a speaking part, maybe even one song to sing. You know I'm strong
for you, little girl, and always have been. My influence counts a
lot--and you know influence is the main thing for a successful actress!"

Mary could stand it no longer.

She touched Lorna on the arm, and the younger girl turned around
guiltily, her eyes dropping as she saw her sister's stern questioning
look.

"Who is this man, Lorna?"

The stranger smiled, and threw his head back defiantly.

"A friend of mine."

"What does he want?"

"That is none of your affair, Mary."

"It is my affair. You are employed here to work, not to talk with men
nor to flirt. You had better attend to your work. And, as for you, I
shall complain to the manager if you don't get out of here at once!"

The stranger laughed softly, but there was a brutal twitch to his jaw
as he retorted: "I'm a customer here, and I guess the manager won't
complain if I spend money. Here, little girlie, pick me out a nice box
of chocolates. The most expensive you have. I'm going to take my
sweetheart out to dinner, and I am a man who spends his money right.
I'm not a cheap policeman!"

Mary's face paled.

Her blood boiled, and only the breeding of generations of gentlewomen
restrained her from slapping the man's face. She watched Lorna, who
could not restrain a giggle, as she took down a be-ribboned candy box,
and began to fill it with chocolate dainties.

"Oh, if Bobbie were only here