aid the clerk pleasantly. "Do you suppose we'd 'a
let you have the goods at that price if we could 'a stored 'em
overnight? Our lease is up," he continued consulting his Ingersoll
watch, "in just fifteen minutes. In a quarter of an hour we hand over
the keys and what's left of the fixtures to the landlord. He's let the
store for to-morrow to a Christmas-tree ornaments merchant."

"Then I suppose I'll have to get an expressman. Where is the nearest, do
you know?"

"Expressman!" exclaimed the sharp youth. "Well, I guess the nearest
would be about Three Hundred and Fifty-second Street and _then_ he'd
have a load and a jag. No, sir, it's the faithful cab for yours. There's
a row of cabs just on the edge of the square. I could go over and get
you a hansom."

"Thank you," said John, "I wish you would." But a glance at his
languishing companion made him add, "I guess you had better make it a
four-wheeler. Hansom-riding would be pretty cold for a lady without a
coat."

"All right," said the sharp youth. "You bring her out on the sidewalk
and I'll get the hurry-up wagon. Say!" he halted to suggest, "you know
what you'll look like, don't you?--riding around with that smile. When
the lights flush you, you'll look just like a bridal party from
Hoboken."

Leaving this word of comfort behind him, he proceeded to imperil his
life among trolley cars and traffic, while John engaged the lady and
urged her to motion.

He discovered that, supported at the waistline, she could be wheeled
very nicely. He forced the muff over her upraised right hand, so that it
somewhat concealed her face, and through an aisle respectfully cleared
by the onlookers he led her to the open air. There he propped her
against the show-window and turned in search of the cab and his new
friend. In doing so he came face to face with an old one.

"Why, hello John!" said Frederick Trevor, a man who had an office in his
building and an interest in his sister. "Who would have thought of
meeting you here?"

"Or you," retorted John. "But since you are here, you can help me in a
little difficulty."

"Not now, old chap," said Frederick, "I'm in a bit of a hurry. See you
about it to-morrow. Well, so long. Don't let me keep you from your
friend."

"Friend!" stormed John and then following the directions of Trevor's
eyes, he descried a blue-clad, golden-haired young lady lolling against
the window, trying with a giant chiffon muff to smother a fit of
hilarious lau