the older girls of three or four
seasons' standing. You could call it representative couldn't you?
Well, they always serve punch; and you know yourself that you have seen
men there who have taken more than they should."

"Yes, yes," admitted Condy. "I know Carter and the two Catlin boys
always do."

"It gets pretty bad sometimes, doesn't it?" she said.

"It does, it does--and it's shameful. But most of the girls--MOST of
them don't seem to mind."

Miss Bessemer stiffened a bit. "There are one or two girls that do,"
she said quietly. "Frank Catlin had the decency to go home last
night," she continued; "and his brother wasn't any worse than usual.
But Jack Carter must have been drinking before he came. He was very
bad indeed--as bad," she said between her teeth, "as he could be and
yet walk straight. As you say, most of the girls don't mind. They
say, 'It's only Johnnie Carter; what do you expect?' But one of the
girls--you know her, Laurie Flagg--cut a dance with him last night and
told him exactly why. Of course, Carter was furious. He was sober
enough to think he had been insulted; and what do you suppose he did?"

"What? what?" exclaimed Condy, breathless, leaning toward her.

"Went about the halls and dressing-rooms circulating some dirty little
lie about Laurie. Actually trying to--to"--Travis hesitated--"to make
a scandal about her."

Condy bounded in his seat. "Beast, cad, swine!" he exclaimed.

"I didn't think," said Travis, "that Carter would so much as dare to
ask me to dance with him--"

"Did he? did--did--"

"Wait," she interrupted. "So I wasn't at all prepared for what
happened. During the german, before I knew it, there he was in front
of me. It was a break, and he wanted it. I hadn't time to think. The
only idea I had was that if I refused him he might tell some dirty
little lie about me. I was all confused--mixed up. I felt just as
though it were a snake that I had to humor to get rid of. I gave him
the break."

Condy sat speechless. Suddenly he arose.

"Well, now, let's see," he began, speaking rapidly, his hands twisting
and untwisting till the knuckles cracked. "Now, let's see. You leave
it to me. I know Carter. He's going to be at a stag dinner where I am
invited to-morrow night, and I--I--"

"No, you won't, Condy," said Travis placidly. "You'll pay no attention
to it, and I'll tell you why. Suppose you should make a scene with Mr.
Carter--I don't know how m