n't want to sink slowly down into the trough of old age
and mediocrity. I'm going."

"When?"

She laughed.

"Oh, the day of execution isn't set. I want to get my house in order."

"How are you going?"

"I don't know. They're all rather ugly. I wanted you to have directions.
I want you sent for."

"Why did you select me?" curiously.

"Because I thought you would understand."

He walked up and down the room, his tall head bent, his eyes on the
floor. She watched him absently, her mind far away. He roused her by
stopping before her.

"I do understand. I offer no opposition. You're of age, you know what
you want. I make you a counter proposition. We will call a taxi, go to
the courthouse, get a license and be married. We will spend six months
together, as partners only. We each go on with our own work, but we
share our problems and our pleasures. At the end of the six months, if
you still want to go, I'll help you."

She stared at him, utterly aghast.

"But I--I hardly know you!"

"You said you'd rather marry a stranger than a man you were merely fond
of--so would I. I've felt this loneliness you speak of. I'd like to make
this experiment. We are neither of us handicapped by sentiment--we start
even."

"But you don't like me--much."

"Enough. As well as you like me. You're a good gambler. Get your hat and
come along."

"Six months! What difference will it make in a thousand years?" she
questioned.

"None."

She stood on tiptoe, her two hands on his shoulders, and looked long
into his eyes. He looked into hers frankly. In the end she nodded, went
into the other room, came back at once, in hat and furs.

"It's a new kind of suicide," she smiled, "come on."

II

In the cab a sort of terror of this madness came upon Bob. She glanced
at this strange man beside her as if she had never seen him before. His
handsome, aquiline profile was toward her as he gazed at the crowds
passing. What was in his mind? Was he, too, longing to run?

"It's getting colder. People are scurrying," he said casually. She
steadied at his calm tone. A new courage, a new sense of adventure began
to stir in her.

They said very little on the drive; in fact, except for necessary
questions they were almost entirely silent until they walked out of the
courthouse, man and wife. Trent put her into the cab, gave an order, and
got in after her. She looked at him intently: so much depended on these
first few minutes.

"Well, part