less respectful.

Patty's feeling of amusement passed as quickly as it came, and she
realised that she must do something at once. Nan was not at home, her
father was too far away, and, curiously, the next person she thought of
as one who could help her in her trouble was Mr. Hepworth.

This thought seemed like an inspiration. Instantly assuming an air of
authority and dignity, she turned to the angry cabman and said, "You will
be the one to be arrested unless you behave yourself more properly. Come
with me to the nearest public telephone station. I have sufficient money
with me to pay for a telephone message, and I will then prove to your
satisfaction that your fare will be immediately paid."

Patty afterward wondered how she had the courage to make this speech, but
the fear of what might happen had been such a shock to her that it had
reacted upon her timidity.

And with good results, for the cabman at once became meek and even
cringing.

"There's a telephone across the street, Miss," he said.

"Very well," said Patty; "come with me."

"There's a telephone here, Miss," said the Italian woman, "if you would
like to use it."

"That's better yet," said Patty; "where's the book?"

Taking the telephone book, Patty quickly turned the leaves until she
found Mr. Hepworth's studio number.

She had an aversion to speaking her own name before her present hearers,
so when Mr. Hepworth responded she merely said, "Do you know who I am?"

Of course the others listening could not hear when Mr. Hepworth responded
that he did know her voice, and then called her by name.

"Very well," said Patty, still speaking with dignity, "I have had the
misfortune to lose my purse, and I am unable to pay my cab fare. Will you
be kind enough to answer the cabman over this telephone right now, and
inform him that it will be paid if he will drive me to your address,
which you will give him?"

"Certainly," replied Mr. Hepworth politely, though he was really very
much amazed at this message.

Patty turned to the cabman and said, somewhat sternly, "Take this
receiver and speak to the gentleman at the other end of the wire."

Sheepishly the man took the receiver and timidly remarked, "Hello."

"What is your number?" asked Mr. Hepworth, and the cabman told him.

"Where are you?" was the next question, and the cabman gave the address
of the costumer, which Patty had not remembered to do.

Mr. Hepworth's studio was not very many blocks awa