t about, now that I look back, was your friendship."
Impulsively throwing her arms around him, she added: "We have been good
pals, haven't we?"

He smiled as he fondled her.

"Yes; it's been a mighty good two years for me. I was always proud to
take you around, because I think you are one of the prettiest things in
New York."

Playfully, her good spirits once more in the ascendant, she jumped into
the armchair with a little girlish laugh. He went on:

"You're always jolly and you never complained. You spent a lot of
money, but it was a pleasure to see you spend it, and what's more, you
never offended me. Most women offend men by coming around looking
untidy and sort of unkempt, but somehow you always knew the value of
your beauty and you always dressed up. I always thought that maybe some
day the fellow would come along, grab you, and make you happy in a nice
way, but I thought that he'd have to have a lot of money. You know,
you've lived a rather extravagant life for five years, Laura. It won't
be an easy job to come down to cases and suffer for the little dainty
necessities you've been used to."

She sat leaning forward, her chin resting on her hands, a serious,
far-away expression on her face. Slowly she said:

"I've thought all about that, and I think I understand."

"You know how it is," he went on. "If you were working without
anybody's help, you might have a hard time getting an engagement. As an
actress, you're only fair."

Laura toyed impatiently with her parasol.

"You needn't remind me of that," she said testily. "That part of my
life is my own. I don't want you to start now and make it harder for me
to do the right thing. It isn't fair; it isn't square, and it isn't
right. You've got to let me go my own way." Putting her hand on the
broker's shoulder, she went on: "I'm sorry to leave you, Will, in a
way, but I want you to know that if I go with John it changes the
spelling of the word 'comradeship' into 'love,' and the word 'mistress'
into 'wife.' Now, please don't talk any more."

"Just a word," he interrupted. "Is it absolutely settled?"

"I told you I didn't know exactly what our plans are," she answered
impatiently. "I shall know to-day--that's what I'm waiting for. I can't
understand why he doesn't come."

The broker, whose gaze had been idly sweeping the canon, suddenly sat
up and pointed up the pass.

"Is that the fellow, coming up here?" he exclaimed.

Laura rose quickly from her se