And as it has turned out, you've given up playing, and you've
enough money to make it possible for you to write your novel. The
Centennial Company have asked you to try a story of adventure for them,
you've found one that is splendid, you're just the man who could handle
it, and now you've got the money to make it possible. Condy," she
exclaimed suddenly, "don't you see your CHANCE? Aren't you a big enough
man to see your chance when it comes? And, besides, do you think I
would take MONEY from you? Can't you understand? If you don't take this
money that belongs to you, you would insult me. That is just the way I
would feel about it. You must see that. If you care for me at all,
you'll take it."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The editor of the Sunday Supplement put his toothpick behind his ear
and fixed Condy with his eyeglasses.

"Well, it's like this, Rivers," he said. "Of course, you know your own
business best. If you stay on here with us, it will be all right. But
I may as well tell you that I don't believe I can hold your place for a
month. I can't get a man in here to do your work for just a month, and
then fire him out at the end of that time. I don't like to lose you,
but if you have an opportunity to get in on another paper during this
vacation of yours, you're at liberty to do so, for all of me."

"Then you think my chance of coming back here would be pretty slim if I
leave for a month now?"

"That's right."

There was a silence. Condy hesitated; then he rose.

"I'll take the chance," he announced.

To Blix, that evening, as he told her of the affair, he said: "It's
neck or nothing now, Blix."

Chapter XII

But did Blix care for him?

In the retired corner of his club, shut off by the Japanese screen, or
going up and down the city to and from his work, or sitting with her in
the bay window of the little dining-room looking down upon the city,
blurred in the twilight or radiant with the sunset, Condy asked himself
the question. A score of times each day he came to a final, definite,
negative decision; and a score of times reopened the whole subject.
Beyond the fact that Blix had enjoyed herself in his company during the
last months, Condy could find no sign or trace of encouragement; and
for that matter he told himself that the indications pointed rather in
the other direction. She had no compunction in leaving him to go away
to New York, perhaps never to re