amused glance now and then and enjoyed
the performance. After the coffee, when Lucy Lee has led him out on the
east terrace to see the full moon come up, they just naturally camped
down in a swing seat and opened up the confidential chat. By the deep
rumble we could tell that Peyton was carryin' the big end of the
conversation.

"I know," says I. "Lucy Lee is makin' him tell how he's goin' to have
Wall Street eatin' out of his hand some day, and every once in a while
she's remarkin': 'Why, Mr. Pratt! I think you're wonderful; simp-ly
wonderful!'"

"But I thought you said," puts in Vee, "that he was--er--case hardened?"

"Oh, he's just playin' the game," says I. "Maybe it's gone to his head a
little tonight, but when it comes time to duck--You'll see."

One of my pet notions has always been that breakfast time is the true
acid test for this romance stuff. Specially for girls. But next morning
Lucy Lee shows up in another little gingham effect, lookin' as fresh and
smilin' as a bed of tulips. And the affair continues right on from
there. It lasts all day and all that evenin' except when Lucy Lee was
makin' another quick change, which she does about four times accordin'
to my count. And each costume is complete--dress, hat, shoes, stockings
all matchin'. The only restless motions Peyton makes, too, are durin'
these brief waits.

"Entertainin' young party, eh?" I suggests to him as Lucy Lee does one
of her sudden flits.

"A most interesting and charming girl," says Peyton.

"Some class, too. What?" I adds.

"If you mean that she dresses in excellent taste, I agree with you,"
says he. "Such absolute simplicity, and yet----" Peyton spreads out his
hands eloquent. "Why can't all girls do that?" he asks. "It would
be--er--such a saving. I've no doubt she makes them all herself."

"If she does," says I, "she must have put in a busy winter."

"Oh, I don't know," says Peyton. "They're all such simple little things.
And then, you know--or possibly you don't--that Lucy--er--I mean Miss
Vaughn, is a surprisingly capable young woman. Really. There's so much
more to her than appears on the surface."

"Tut, tut, Peyton!" says I. "Ain't you gettin' in kind of deep?"

"Don't be absurd, Torchy," says he. "Just because I show a little
natural interest in a charming young woman it doesn't follow that----"

"Look!" says I. "Someone's givin' you the come-on signal."

Course, it's Lucy Lee. She's changed to an afternoon costume