of admiration that every man
cast on her guileless-seeming beauty, she forgot that she had ever been
annoyed.

Garson's comment as she departed was uttered with his accustomed
bluntness.

"Solid ivory!"

"She's a darling, anyway!" Mary declared, smiling. "You really don't
half-appreciate her, Joe!"

"Anyhow, I appreciate that hat," was the reply, with a dry chuckle.

"Mr. Griggs," Fannie announced. There was a smile on the face of the
maid, which was explained a minute later when, in accordance with her
mistress's order, the visitor was shown into the drawing-room, for his
presence was of an elegance so extraordinary as to attract attention
anywhere--and mirth as well from ribald observers.

Meantime, Garson had explained to Mary.

"It's English Eddie--you met him once. I wonder what he wants? Probably
got a trick for me. We often used to work together."

"Nothing without my consent," Mary warned.

"Oh, no, no, sure not!" Garson agreed.

Further discussion was cut short by the appearance of English Eddie
himself, a tall, handsome man in the early thirties, who paused just
within the doorway, and delivered to Mary a bow that was the perfection
of elegance. Mary made no effort to restrain the smile caused by the
costume of Mr. Griggs. Yet, there was no violation of the canons of good
taste, except in the aggregate. From spats to hat, from walking coat
to gloves, everything was perfect of its kind. Only, there was an
over-elaboration, so that the ensemble was flamboyant. And the man's
manners precisely harmonized with his clothes, whereby the whole effect
was emphasized and rendered bizarre. Garson took one amazed look, and
then rocked with laughter.

Griggs regarded his former associate reproachfully for a moment, and
then grinned in frank sympathy.

"Really, Mr. Griggs, you quite overcome me," Mary said,
half-apologetically.

The visitor cast a self-satisfied glance over his garb.

"I think it's rather neat, myself." He had some reputation in the
under-world for his manner of dressing, and he regarded this latest
achievement as his masterpiece.

"Sure some duds!" Garson admitted, checking his merriment.

"From your costume," Mary suggested, "one might judge that this is
purely a social call. Is it?"

"Well, not exactly," Griggs answered with a smile.

"So I fancied," his hostess replied. "So, sit down, please, and tell us
all about it."

While she was speaking, Garson went to the various doors,