and he was cursing himself for having been so
stupid as to forget it for the moment and put his partner in
danger of detection.

"I--I guess he's gone," stammered Sperry. "Lord, but that was
a knock you gave me! Better come to lunch with me."

Susan hesitated, a wistful, forlorn look in her eyes. "Do you
really want me?" asked she.

"Come right along," said Sperry in a tone that left no doubt
of his sincerity. "We'll go to the Knickerbocker and have
something good to eat."

"Oh, no--a quieter place," urged Susan.

Sperry laughed. "You mean less expensive. There's one of the
great big differences between you and the make-believe ladies
one bumps into in this part of town. _You_ don't like to be
troublesome or expensive. But we'll go to the Knickerbocker.
I feel 'way down today, and I intended to treat myself. You
don't look any too gay-hearted yourself."

"I'll admit I don't like the way the cards are running," said
Susan. "But--they'll run better--sooner or later."

"Sure!" cried Sperry. "You needn't worry about the play.
That's all right. How I envy women!"

"Why?"

"Oh--you have Rod between you and the fight. While I--I've
got to look out for myself."

"So have I," said Susan. "So has everyone, for that matter."

"Believe me, Mrs. Spenser," cried Sperry, earnestly, "you can
count on Rod. No matter what----"

"Please!" protested Susan. "I count on nobody. I learned
long ago not to lean."

"Well, leaning isn't exactly a safe position," Sperry
admitted. "There never was a perfectly reliable crutch.
Tell me your troubles."

Susan smilingly shook her head. "That'd be leaning. . . . No,
thank you. I've got to think it out for myself. I believed
I had arranged for a career for myself. It seems to have gone
to pieces That's all. Something else will turn up--after lunch."

"Not a doubt in the world," replied he confidently.
"Meanwhile--there's Rod."

Susan's laugh of raillery made him blush guiltily. "Yes,"
said she, "there's Rod." She laughed again, merrily.
"There's Rod--but where is there?"

"You're the only woman in the world he has any real liking
for," said Sperry, earnest and sincere. "Don't you ever doubt
that, Mrs. Spenser."

When they were seated in the cafe and he had ordered, he
excused himself and Susan saw him make his way to a table
where sat Fitzalan and another man who looked as if he too had
to do with the stage. It was apparent that Fitzalan was
excit