y over
everything and everybody. He is ruthless in going after what he wants.
He fears nothing above or below. I honestly believe that if the arch
demon were to block him on the trail, Bully Presby would take a chance
and try to throw him over a cliff. I don't suppose he ever had a vice
or a human emotion. I believe I'd like him better if he had a little
of both."

Dick laughed outright, and stared at her with renewed interest. He
admitted to himself that she was one of the most fascinating women he
had ever met, and wondered what vicissitude could have brought such a
woman, who used classical illustrations, fluent, cultivated speech,
and who was strong grace exemplified, to such a position. She seemed
master of her surroundings, and yet not of them, looking down with a
hard and lofty scorn on the very men from whom she made her living. He
began to believe what was commonly said of her, that her virtue,
physical and ethical, was unassailable.

There was a crash and a loud guffaw of laughter. They pulled the
curtains farther apart, and looked across at the man who was
celebrating. He had dropped a bottle of wine to the floor below, and
was beseeching some one to bring it up to him.

Bill leaned farther out of the box to look, and suddenly the drummer
saw him, pointed in his direction with a drumstick, and spoke to a
girl leaning near by. She, too, looked up, and then clapped her
hands.

"There he is!" she called in her high treble voice. "Up there in
number five! The man that carried Pearl out and got burned himself."

Some man near her climbed to the little stage and pointed, took off
his hat, and shouted: "A tiger for that man! Now! All together!
Whooee! Whooee! Whooee! Ow!"

In the wild yell that every one joined, Bill was abashed. He shrank
back into the box, flushed and embarrassed, while Dick laughed
outright, with boyish enjoyment at his confusion, and The Lily watched
him with a soft look in her eyes, and then stared down at the floor
below.

Suddenly her figure seemed to stiffen, and the look on her face
altered to one of cold anger. She peered farther over as if to assure
herself of something, and Dick, following her eyes, saw they were
fixed on a man who stood leaning against one of the pillars near the
entrance to the dance floor. He alone, apparently, was taking no part
in the demonstration in Bill's honor, but glowered sullenly toward the
box. It took no long reasoning for Dick to know why. The ma