ent and interest.
The other nodded.

"You have, my young friend," he said, with sudden seriousness, "and now
I, too, will be clear. In return for one warning, I will give you
another. Keep out of matters that do not concern you."

Laurie grinned at him.

"You forget that I have made this matter my concern," he said, lightly.
"Try to remember that."

The other man rose. His manner had changed to a sort of impatient
weariness.

"Get her out of here," he said abruptly. "You are beginning to irritate
me, you two. Take her home, and then keep away from her, unless you are
looking for trouble."

He delivered the last words so clearly and menacingly that the waiter
who had appeared with his luncheon heard them and fell back a step.
Looking into the veiled eyes, Laurie also felt a sense of recoil. The
fellow was positively venomous. There was something serpentlike in the
dull but fixed look of those goggling eyes, in the forward thrust of the
smooth brown head.

"I've said my say," he retorted. "If I ever catch you around that
studio, or in any way annoying the lady, I'll thrash you within an inch
of your life; and then I'll turn what's left of you over to the
authorities. Understand?"

He nodded and strolled back to Miss Mayo's table. For an instant the
other man stood looking after him, as if tempted to follow. Then, with a
shrug, he dropped into his chair and began the luncheon the waiter had
placed before him.

Laurie found the girl standing by the table, ready for the street, her
coat fastened, her gloves buttoned.

"Oh, how could you!" she gasped. "What did he say?"

Laurie summoned the waiter with a gesture and asked for his account.

"Sit down a minute," he suggested, "and tell me who he is."

"Not here," she urged. "I couldn't breathe here. Hurry, please. Let us
get away!"

She was so obviously in earnest that he yielded. He paid the bill, which
the waiter had ready, accepted that appreciative servitor's help with
his overcoat, and escorted his guest from the room.

"But, for heaven's sake, don't run!" he laughed. "Do you want the
creature to think we're flying before him?"

She flushed and moderated her pace. Side by side, and quite
deliberately, they left the restaurant, while the stranger watched them
with his dull, fixed gaze. He seemed to have recovered his temper, but
it was also plain that the little encounter had given him something to
think about. When he resumed his luncheon he ate slowl