ed to. "He will come in a few
minutes."

"Oh," said I. "That's a pity."

"Why a pity?" she wanted to know.

"Because he's not invited, and that is going to make it mighty
awkward--worse than awkward."

"But, you invited us all," she insisted. "You are a member. You have the
right----"

"I have the right, but I didn't exercise it for Storm's benefit. I
shouldn't have thought of doing so. The rest of the party are gentlemen
and ladies. The club can make no objection to them as guests. Storm is
a chauffeur. I should have insulted the club by inviting him, and I
certainly didn't do so."

Patty flushed up, and her eyes turned black. She can be a regular little
_tiger_ cat, that girl! She must have been spoilt by the nuns in that
blessed convent of hers! I believe she'd have liked to box my ears. But
I knew I had the whip hand, and I was enjoying myself. "He's _not_ a
chauffeur. You know that!" she snapped. "He kindly drives my car these
few days, because we couldn't replace the man who went, and because I am
not experienced. If it comes to that, _you're_ a chauffeur, too. You
drove the Grayles-Grice to-day, and you would to-morrow, if I said yes."

"You are talking sophistry," said I, though I don't suppose she knew
what I meant, as I believe she thinks in French. "Storm is a paid
employe of Mrs. Shuster. He's been switched off one job on to another to
accommodate. And he admits he's had former experience as a chauffeur,
driving a Grayles-Grice. Anyhow, the fact remains that's the way his
status will be regarded here, and if he comes in, claiming to be my
guest, in self-defense I shall have to deny it, otherwise I might be
asked to resign. When I've had to give him the lie, he will be kicked
out of the place. That's a sure thing."

Patty began to look sick, and her green dress wasn't as becoming as it
had been while she was just plain mad. "You said something about my
saving him trouble," she reminded me. "What did you mean?"

"Well, you could do one of two things," I began to explain. "You could
come out now with me in a hurry before he gets in, to head him off and
tell him in your own words what I've just said."

"I would rather die than do such a very insulting thing!" she rapped
out, rolling her r's as if she were beating a drum.

"All right then, there's one thing left--that gives you a little more
time, but not much, because if the crash isn't to come the question has
got to be decided in a few minutes, b