pers in it."

"I'll be careful of it," said Titania.

"Promise me not to touch it. And another thing--if any one calls for
it, don't let them take it until I get home."

Aubrey held out his watch in front of Roger. The latter nodded.

"Do you understand?" he said. "Do you hear me all right?"

"Yes, splendidly. I think it's wonderful! You know I never talked on
long distance before----"

"Don't touch the bag," repeated Roger doggedly, "and don't let any one
take it until we--until I get back."

"I promise," said Titania blithely.

"Good-bye," said Roger, and set down the receiver. His face looked
curiously pinched, and there was perspiration in the hollows under his
eyes. Aubrey held out his watch impatiently.

"We've just time to make it," cried Roger, and they rushed from the
shop.

It was not a sprightly journey. The train made its accustomed detour
through West Philadelphia and North Philadelphia before getting down to
business, and the two voyagers felt a personal hatred of the brakemen
who permitted passengers from these suburbs to straggle leisurely
aboard instead of flogging them in with knotted whips. When the
express stopped at Trenton, Aubrey could easily have turned a howitzer
upon that innocent city and blasted it into rubble. An unexpected stop
at Princeton Junction was the last straw. Aubrey addressed the
conductor in terms that were highly treasonable, considering that this
official was a government servant.

The winter twilight drew in, gray and dreary, with a threat of snow.
For some time they sat in silence, Roger buried in a Philadelphia
afternoon paper containing the text of the President's speech
announcing his trip to Europe, and Aubrey gloomily recapitulating the
schedule of his past week. His head throbbed, his hands were wet with
nervousness so that crumbs of tobacco adhered to them annoyingly.

"It's a funny thing," he said at last. "You know I never heard of your
shop until a week ago to-day, and now it seems like the most important
place on earth. It was only last Tuesday that we had supper together,
and since then I've had my scalp laid open twice, had a desperado lie
in wait for me in my own bedroom, spent two night vigils on Gissing
Street, and endangered the biggest advertising account our agency
handles. I don't wonder you call the place haunted!"

"I suppose it would all make good advertising copy?" said Roger
peevishly.

"Well, I don't know" said Aubr