f it is!" says he. "Guess I can wait around outside, can't
I?"

"Well, you have got sportin' blood, Ira," says I. "Sure, there's
nothin' to stop your waitin' if you don't block the traffic. But maybe
it'll be an hour or more."

"I don't care," says he. "And--and let's go and have a glass of soda
first."

Course, I couldn't go away and leave things all up in the air like
that; so after Ira'd blown himself we wanders up to the cabaret joint
and I helps him stick around.

It's some lively scene in front of Looey's at that time of night too;
with all the taxis comin' and goin' and the kalsomined complexions
driftin' in and out, and the head waiters coppin' out the five-spots
dexterous. And every little while there's something extra doin'; like
a couple of college hicks bein' led out by the strong-arm squad for
disputin' a bill, or a perfect gent all ablaze havin' a debate with his
lady-love, or a bunch of out-of-town buyers discoverin' the evenin'
dress rule for the first time and gettin' peeved over it.

But nothin' can drag Ira's gaze from that revolvin' exit door for
more'n half a minute. There he stands, watchin' eager every couple
that comes out; not excited or fidgety, you understand, but calm and in
dead earnest. It got to be midnight, then half past, then quarter to
one; and then all of a sudden there comes a ripplin', high-pitched
laugh, and out trips a giddy-dressed fairy in a gilt and rhinestone
turban effect with a tall plume stickin' straight up from the front of
it. She's one of these big, full-curved, golden brunettes, with long
jet danglers in her ears and all the haughty airs of a grand opera
star. I didn't dream it was the one we was lookin' for until I sees
Ira straighten up and step out to meet her.

"Nellie," says he, sort of choky and pleadin'.

It's a misfire, though; for just then she's turned to finish some
remark to a fat old sport with flat ears and bags under his eyes that's
followin' close behind. So it ain't until she's within a few feet of
Higgins that she sees him at all. Then she stares at him sort of
doubtful, like she could hardly believe her eyes.

"Nellie," he begins again, "I've been wanting to tell you how it was
that----"

"You!" she breaks in. And with that she throws her head back and
laughs. It wa'n't what you might call a pleasant laugh, either. It
sounds cold and hard and bitter.

That's the extent of the reunion too. She's still laughin' as she
brush