astefully attired in green silk, her blond hair fluffed
artfully, and a dainty patch of black court-plaster adorning one cheek.
She stood hesitating on the threshold, her eyes searching the other's
face.

"Pardon me, please," the voice somewhat high-pitched, "but they told me
down-stairs you were from New York."

"Yes, that is my home; won't you come in?"

"Sure I will. Why I was so lonesome in this hole I simply couldn't
stand it any longer. Have you only one chair?" She glanced about, her
eyes widening. "Heavens, what a funny room! Why, I thought mine was
the limit, but it's a palace beside this. You been here long?"

"Since yesterday; take the chair, please; I am used to the bed--no,
really, I don't mind in the least. It is rather funny, but then I
haven't always lived at the Ritz-Carlton, so I don't mind."

"Huh! for the matter of that no more have I, but believe me, there
would be some howl if they ever gave me a room like this--even in
Haskell. I know your name; it's Stella Donovan--well, mine is Celeste
La Rue."

"A very pretty name; rather unusual. Are you French?"

The other laughed, crossing her feet carelessly, and extracting a
cigarette case from a hand-bag.

"French? Well, I guess not. You don't mind if I smoke, do you?
Thanks. Have one yourself--they're imported. No? All right. I
suppose it is a beastly habit, but most of the girls I know have picked
it up. Seems sociable, somehow. No, I'm not French. My dad's name
was Capley, and I annexed this other when I went on the stage. It
tickles the Johnnies, and sounds better than Sadie Capley. You liked
it yourself."

"It is better adapted to that purpose--you are an actress then?"

"Well, nobody ever said so. I can dance and sing a bit, and know how
to wear clothes. It's an easier job than some others I've had, and
gets me into a swell set. Tell me, when were you in New York?"

"About a month ago."

"Well, didn't you see the Revue?"

"The last one? Certainly."

"That's where I shone--second girl on the right in the chorus, and I
was in the eccentric dance with Joe Steams; some hit--what?"

"Yes, I remember now; they called you the Red Fairy--because of your
ruby ring. What in the world ever brought you out here?"

Celeste laughed, a cloud of smoke curling gracefully above her blonde
hair.

"Some joke, isn't it? Well, it's no engagement at the Good Luck Dance
Hall yonder, you can bet on that. The fact is I've quit