blame
me."

"Who?" cried Elfie sarcastically. "The good man who wanted to lead you
to the good life without even a bread-basket for an advance agent?
Huh!"

"He doesn't know how desperately poor I am," explained Laura
half-apologetically.

"He knows you're out of work, don't he?"

"Not exactly. I told him it was difficult to find an engagement, but he
has no idea that things are as they are."

"Then you're a chump!" declared Elfie, with an expressive shrug of her
shoulders. "Hasn't he sent you anything?"

"He hasn't anything to send."

Elfie bounded with indignant surprise.

"What? Then what does he think you're going to live on--asphalt
croquettes with conversation sauce?"

Sinking down on a chair, Laura gave way again.

"I don't know--I don't know!" she cried, sobbing.

Elfie went over to her friend and placed her arms about her.

"Don't be foolish, dearie. You know there is somebody waiting for
you--somebody who'll be good to you and get you out of this mess."

Laura looked up quickly.

"You mean Will Brockton?" she said, fixing her companion with a steady
stare.

"Yes."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"You won't get sore again if I tell you, will you?"

Laura rose.

"No--why?" she said.

"He's downstairs--waiting in the car. I promised to tell him what you
said."

"Then it was all planned, and--and----"

"Now, dearie, I knew you were up against it, and I wanted to bring you
two together. He's got half of the Burgess shows, and if you'll only
see him, everything will be fixed."

"When does he want to see me?"

"Now."

"Here?"

"Yes. Shall I tell him to come up?"

Motionless as a statue, Laura made no sign. Her face pale as death, her
hands clasped in front of her, she stood as if transfixed, staring out
of the window.

"Shall I tell him to come up?" repeated Elfie impatiently.

Still no answer for a long moment that seemed like an hour. Then all at
once, with a quick, convulsive movement, as if by a determined effort
she had succeeded in conquering her own will, she turned and cried,
with a half sob:

"Yes--yes--tell him to come up!"

Elfie sprang joyously forward. Her arguments had not been in vain,
after all. Kissing her friend's cold cheeks, she exclaimed:

"Now you're a sensible dear. I'll bet he's half-frozen down there. I'll
send him up at once."

Anxious to get Brockton there before the girl had a chance to change
her mind, she was hurrying tow