onday, if they could make the dinner early.

At a little after eight on Monday evening, the three friends returned to
Thea's apartment and seated themselves for an hour of quiet talk.

"I'm sorry we couldn't have had Landry with us tonight," Thea said, "but
he's on at Weber and Fields' every night now. You ought to hear him, Dr.
Archie. He often sings the old Scotch airs you used to love."

"Why not go down this evening?" Fred suggested hopefully, glancing at
his watch. "That is, if you'd like to go. I can telephone and find what
time he comes on."

Thea hesitated. "No, I think not. I took a long walk this afternoon and
I'm rather tired. I think I can get to sleep early and be so much ahead.
I don't mean at once, however," seeing Dr. Archie's disappointed look.
"I always like to hear Landry," she added. "He never had much voice, and
it's worn, but there's a sweetness about it, and he sings with such
taste."

"Yes, doesn't he? May I?" Fred took out his cigarette case. "It really
doesn't bother your throat?"

"A little doesn't. But cigar smoke does. Poor Dr. Archie! Can you do
with one of those?"

"I'm learning to like them," the doctor declared, taking one from the
case Fred proffered him.

"Landry's the only fellow I know in this country who can do that sort of
thing," Fred went on. "Like the best English ballad singers. He can sing
even popular stuff by higher lights, as it were."

Thea nodded. "Yes; sometimes I make him sing his most foolish things for
me. It's restful, as he does it. That's when I'm homesick, Dr. Archie."

"You knew him in Germany, Thea?" Dr. Archie had quietly abandoned his
cigarette as a comfortless article. "When you first went over?"

"Yes. He was a good friend to a green girl. He helped me with my German
and my music and my general discouragement. Seemed to care more about my
getting on than about himself. He had no money, either. An old aunt had
loaned him a little to study on.--Will you answer that, Fred?"

Fred caught up the telephone and stopped the buzz while Thea went on
talking to Dr. Archie about Landry. Telling some one to hold the wire,
he presently put down the instrument and approached Thea with a startled
expression on his face.

"It's the management," he said quietly. "Gloeckler has broken down:
fainting fits. Madame Rheinecker is in Atlantic City and Schramm is
singing in Philadelphia tonight. They want to know whether you can come
down and finish SIEGLINDE."

"Wh