w everybody I deal with. We must get better
acquainted. You've got the best figure in the business--the
very best."

"Thank you," said Susan with a grave, distant smile.

"Got a date for dinner tonight?" inquired he; and, assuming
that everything would yield precedence to him, he did not wait
for a reply, but went on, "Tell me your address. I'll send a
cab for you at seven o'clock."

"Thank you," said Susan, "but I can't go."

Gideon smiled. "Oh, don't be shy. Of course you'll go. Ask
Jeffries. He'll tell you it's all right."

"There are reasons why I'd rather not be seen in the restaurants."

"That's even better. I'll come in the cab myself and we'll go
to a quiet place."

His eyes smiled insinuatingly at her. Now that she looked at
him more carefully he was unusually attractive for a man of his
type--had strength and intelligence in his features, had a
suggestion of mastery, of one used to obedience, in his voice.
His teeth were even and sound, his lips firm yet not too thin.

"Come," said he persuasively. "I'll not eat you up--" with a
gay and gracious smile--"at least I'll try not to."

Susan remembered what Miss Hinkle had told her. She saw that
she must either accept the invitation or give up her position.
She said:

"Very well," and gave him her address.

Back came Jeffries and Miss Hinkle carrying the first of the
wraps. Gideon waved them away. "You've shown 'em to me
before," said he. "I don't want to see 'em again. Give me
the evening gowns."

Susan withdrew, soon to appear in a dress that left her arms
and neck bare. Gideon could not get enough of this. Jeffries
kept her walking up and down until she was ready to drop with
weariness of the monotony, of the distasteful play of Gideon's
fiery glance upon her arms and shoulders and throat. Gideon
tried to draw her into conversation, but she would--indeed
could--go no further than direct answers to his direct
questions. "Never mind," said he to her in an undertone.
"I'll cheer you up this evening. I think I know how to order
a dinner."

Her instant conquest of the difficult and valuable Gideon so
elated Jeffries that he piled the work on her. He used her
with every important buyer who came that day. The temperature
was up in the high nineties, the hot moist air stood stagnant
as a barnyard pool; the winter models were cruelly hot and
heavy. All day long, with a pause of half an hour to eat her
roll and drink a glass of