d handed it to her. She accepted it
with a deprecating glance and a smile that was tinged with pathetic
coquetry. Then she looked at it strangely. "What's the writing?" she
asked.

Orme started. He had given her the marked five-dollar bill. "I didn't
mean to give you that one," he said, taking it from her fingers.

She stared at him. "Is it phony?"

"No--but I want it. Here's another." As he took a fresh bill from his
pocket-book he discovered to his surprise that the marked bill, together
with the few dollars in change he had received after his purchase in the
shop below, was all that he now had left in his pocket. He remembered
that he had intended to draw on his funds that morning. His departure
from New York had been hurried, and he had come away with little ready
cash.

Madame Alia slipped the bill into her bosom and waited. She knew well
enough that her visitor had some demand to make.

"Now," said Orme, "I am going to use your fire-escape for a little
while."

The woman nodded.

"I want you to keep all visitors out," he continued. "Don't answer the
bell. I may want to come back this way quick."

"This is straight business, isn't it? I don't want to get into no
trouble."

"Absolutely straight," said Orme. "All you have to do is to leave your
window open and keep quiet."

"You can count on me," she said. "Perhaps you know all about the place
down there, but if you don't, I'll tell you that the fire-escape leads
into his reception-room."

Orme smiled. "You seem to be acquainted with your neighbor, after all."

"I've come up the stairs when his door was open."

"Does he seem to be pretty busy with his teaching?"

"Evenings, he is. And some come in the afternoon. I always know, because
they thud on the floor so when they wrestle."

"And mornings?"

"He generally seems to be away mornings."

"I fancy he's what you'd call a noisy neighbor," said Orme.

"Oh, I don't mind. There's more or less noise up here sometimes." She
smiled frankly. "Spirits can make a lot of noise. I've known them to
throw tables over and drag chairs all around the room."

"Well"--Orme was not interested in spirits--"be sure you don't let
anybody in here until I come back."

Again she nodded. Then she went into the reception-hall and he heard her
push the bolt of the door. She did not return, but her steps seemed to
move into one of the other rooms.

Orme went to the window, pushed it up, and climbed out on the
fire-esc