nd fetch her, I will." As he started
for the inner door, Farren with drunken dignity opposed his broad bulk.

"Now, Mr. Oglethorpe, you wouldn't do that. Ladies in there. Chorus
girls----"

"That's a lie. Stand aside."

Farren, who was very young and very drunk, but who had a rudimentary
sense of responsibility where girls of his own class were concerned,
burst into tears. "You wouldn't, Mr. Oglethorpe! I swear to God
Janet's not there. But--but--some of her friends are. They wouldn't
want you to see them." His mood changed to righteous indignation.
"What right you got breaking into a gentleman's rooms like a damned
policeman? It's an outrage and if I had a gun I'd shoot you.
I'd--I'd----" And then he collapsed on a chair and was very sick.

Oglethorpe turned to Clavering, who had thought it best to remain in
the hall and watch other exits. "Just stay there, will you?" He
turned to the three gaping youngsters. "You dare make a move and I'll
knock your heads together. Just remember that you're drunk and I'm
sober."

He went into the next room, and immediately saw several forms under the
bed. He reached down and jerked them out by their legs. They rolled
over, covering their faces and sobbing with fright. Emancipated as
they were and disdainful of pre-war parents, when it came to late
parties in a bachelor's rooms they exercised strategy to slip out, not
defiance.

"Oh, Mr. Oglethorpe," gasped one convulsively. "Don't tell on us,
p-l-e-a-s-e."

"I've no intention of telling on you. You can go to the devil in your
own way for all I care. I'm after Janet----"

"She's not here----"

"That's what I'm going to find out." He opened the door of a wardrobe
and another girl tumbled into his arms, shrieked, and flung herself
face downward on the bed. But it was not Janet. He investigated every
corner of the apartment and then returned to Clavering, slamming the
door behind him.

"She's not there, Lee," he said, leaning heavily against the wall.
"Where in God's name is she? I don't know where to look next. This is
her particular gang. She has no other intimates that I know of. But
what do I know about her, anyway?"

"You're sure she isn't hiding anywhere at home?"

"Searched the house from top to bottom."

"I suppose it isn't likely that she's gone to any of her aunts."

"Good Lord, no. She'd take a chance on mother, but never with any of
the rest of the family, and she's got no money.