"Is it late?" she asked in arch surprise. "I'm so sorry, for I was going
to say I'd come down for a little walk with you."

"'Deed, it's never too late for that; but say, little Penny Ante, Kurt is
sitting in the library window--"

"I am not coming into view of the library window. Wait a moment! Catch
this."

She picked up her sweater from the window seat and threw it down to him,
stepped nimbly over the railing of the little balcony, made a quick
spring, caught the branch of a nearby tree and slid down to earth.

"Say, you little squirrel! You'd make some sailor. It's hungry I've been
for sight of you. I met Gene in town this afternoon and he told me about
the wonderful stunt you pulled off this morning for Francis."

"That was nothing. But--have you come back, Jo?"

"Not yet. I'm motoring in from town and left my car down in the road. I
just thought I'd pass by your window and let out a whistle for you."

"Jo, I came down to say something serious--"

"You can say anything you like to me, Miss Penny Ante," he replied
encouragingly.

"Come away where no one can overhear our voices."

They strolled away out of the moonlight to the shelter of some shrubbery
where they talked long and earnestly. On the way back to the house, Pen,
lifting her eyes to his, was struck by the look in his boyish face.

"Jo," she said, a slight wistfulness in her tone, "you really love--the
way a woman loves."

"What's the use," he said defiantly, "if the one I love won't have
me--she--"

He stopped short and looked at her keenly.

"You know, Jo, you must learn to be patient and await--developments."

A light leaped to his eyes.

"I'll wait! But the limit mustn't be too far. Do you know what Gene
confided to me to-night? He thinks that Kurt is in love with you!"

She laughed mirthlessly.

"Kurt! He wouldn't know how to love. If he did, he wouldn't let himself.
He would hang on to his love like a Jew to a bargain. Who would want a
grudging love?"

"Kurt is my pal--he--"

"He won't be if he finds us lingering here. You reconnoitre and see if he
is still in the window. I don't intend to shinny up this tree. It's so
much easier going down than up."

"You can go in the kitchen way. It's cook's affinity night, and she's
somewhere with Gus."

"The kitchen is where I go in then. Jo, are you very sure that you are in
love--enough to marry a thief? You're only a boy. Better keep your love
until you are older."

"I am not a