please don't say that, Helen," cried Sadie, all
a-flutter. "I know he will agree to a postponement."

"But I don't want any postponement," protested Helen. "I told you what
I intended doing and I'm going to do it."

"Go on, tell her again--we'd all like to hear it," broke in Gladwin.

Helen swung around and said dramatically:

"I'm going to marry Travers Gladwin to-night."

Travers Gladwin reeled a little where he stood, met and turned from
the beaming stare of Whitney Barnes. As he did so Helen came very
close to him, laid her hand on his arm and said tremulously:

"You are his best friend. Tell me honestly, don't you think I'm right
in wanting to marry him?"

This was a poser, but when he did summon an answer it came right out
from the heart, his eyes devouring the beautiful girl before him as he
spoke.

"Nothing on earth would please me so much as to have you marry Travers
Gladwin, and I promise you now that I am going to do everything in my
power to persuade you to do it."

"Oh, I am so glad!" Helen thanked him. A moment later she added with a
perplexed smile: "But why did you talk about his bravery as you did?"

"Well, you see"--the young man stopped.

"I suppose," Helen suggested brightly, "being so very fond of him, you
hated the idea of his marrying. Was that it?"

"Yes, but that was before I saw you. I hope you are going to like his
best friend just a little."

There was no mistaking the ardent emphasis on the last sentence and
Helen studied the young man's face curiously. She turned away with a
blush and walked across the room.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE TORMENT OF OFFICER 666.

Meantime Officer 666, on his aristocratic beat, four blocks up and
four blocks down the Fifth avenue pave, was sticking to the east side
of the street and vainly trying to keep his eyes to the front.

It was excruciating duty, with the raven-haired Rose wheeling her
perambulator along the opposite way and keeping, by way of feminine
perversity, on a latitudinal line with the patrolling of Michael
Phelan.

There she was just opposite, always, never twisting her head an inch
to give him so much as a glance or a smile. It made him wild that she
should discipline her eyes in that fashion, while his would wander
hither and yon, especially yon when Rose was in that direction.

The daintiness of Rose in cap and apron with a big white fichu at her
throat, with one red cheek and the corner of the most kissable mouth
on