nded over to Bob; or
that the tie might be removed. Instead they drew together, trying
vainly to liberate the struggling Jezebel from her imprisonment. It
was not a simple undertaking and to add to its difficulties the
ungrateful beast, irritated by their endeavors, began to protest
violently.

"She'll tear your tie all to pieces," cried the stranger.

"No matter. I don't mind, if she doesn't scratch you."

"Oh, I am not afraid of her. If you can hold her a second longer, I
think I can free the last claw."

As the girl toiled at her precarious mission, Bob could feel her warm
breath fan his cheek and could catch the fragrant perfume of her hair.
So far as he was concerned, Jezebel might retain her hold on his
necktie forever. But, alas, the slim, white fingers were too deft and
he heard at last a triumphant:

"There!"

At the same instant the offending kitten was placed on the floor.

"You little monkey!" cried the man, smiling down at the furry object at
his feet.

"Isn't she!" echoed the visitor sympathetically. "There she goes, the
imp! What is left of your tie? Let me look at it."

"It's all right, thank you."

"There is just one thread ruffed up. I could fix it if I had a pin."

From her gown she produced one, but as she did so a spray of wild roses
slipped to the ground.

"You've dropped your flowers," said Bob, picking them up.

"Have I? Thank you. They are withered, anyway, I'm afraid."

Tossing the rosebuds on the bench, she began to draw into smoothness
the silken loop that defaced the tie.

"There!" she exclaimed, glancing up into his eyes and tilting her head
critically to one side. "That is ever so much better. You would
hardly notice it. Now I really must go. I have bothered you quite
enough."

"You have not bothered me at all," contradicted Bob emphatically.

"But I know I must have," she protested. "I've certainly delayed you.
Besides, it doesn't look as if Willie was coming back."

"Isn't there something I can do for you?"

"No, thank you. It was nothing important. In fact, it doesn't matter
at all. I just came to see if he could fix the clasp of my belt
buckle. It is broken, and he is so clever at mending things that I
thought perhaps he could mend this."

"Let me see it."

"Oh, I couldn't think of troubling you."

"But I should be glad to fix it if I could. If not, I could at least
hand it over to Willie's superior skill."

She laughed.

"I'm not c