system," Billy said, "but I don't see why Nancy doesn't
take her pencil from behind her ear, or why you don't say to her--"

"I wouldn't put a pencil behind my ear," Nancy said scathingly.

"And she never loses a hairpin," Betty cut in. "If I approve this
system of signals I don't see what you have to complain of. Nancy
couldn't get a pencil behind her ear even if she wanted to. It's only
a criminal ear like mine that accommodates a pencil."

"Speaking of ears," Dick said, looking at his watch, "let's get on
with the beauty show. I have to take my mother to see _Boris_
to-night, and she has an odd notion of being on time."

"Aw right," Betty said. "Here's Michael. Bring in the first one
immediately, Michael."

"Sure an' I will that, Miss Pope." The old family servitor of the
Thorndykes pulled a deliberate lid over a twinkling left eye by way of
acknowledging the presence of his young master. "There's quite a
display of thim this time."

The first applicant, guided thus by Michael, appeared on the
threshold and stood for a moment framed in the low doorway. Seeing
two gentlemen present she carefully arranged her expression to meet
that contingency. She was a blonde girl with masses of doubtfully
tinted hair and no chin, but her eyes were very blue and matched a
chain of turquoise beads about her throat, and she radiated a peculiar
vitality.

Betty took her pencil from behind her ear.

"You're losing a hair--" Nancy began, but Dick and Billy exchanged
glances and began rubbing their hands together energetically and
enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry," Nancy said crisply, "but you're a little too tall for our
purpose."

"And too blonde," Betty added with a bland dismissing smile. "We're
looking for a special type of girl."

"I understood you were looking for a waitress," the girl said pertly,
with her eyes on Billy.

"I was," Billy answered, "but I'm not now. My--my wife won't let me."
He waved an inclusive hand in the direction of Nancy and Betty.

"If you don't behave," Nancy said, while they waited for Michael to
bring in the next girl, "you can't stay. If that is the kind of girl
you men find attractive then my restaurant is doomed from the
beginning. I wouldn't have that girl in my employ for--"

Before she could begin again, applicant number two stood before
them,--a comfortable, kind-eyed girl, no longer very young but with
efficiency written all over her, despite the shyness that beset her.

Nancy ru