eve O'Valley loved her.

She felt the situation was as unforgivable and stupid as to have Gay
offer her a two-carat diamond ring and to have her say: "No, Bubseley;
sell it and let us use the money to start a fund for heating the huts
of aged and infirm Eskimos. The Salvation Army has never dropped up
that way."

The great miracle had happened. And, envying Mary a trifle and pitying
Steve for not having won his cause, Trudy justified a hidden resolve
of long ago: To use Mary's secret in case Beatrice became overbearing
or impossible. It was mighty fine plunder, upon which she flattered
herself she had a single-handed option.

So she released Steve from the agony of conversation, and watching the
tender, happy look as he talked to Mary over some other detail of the
cropper, she went inside to Mary's office to powder her own little
nose and realize that she was no nearer to obtaining a diamond ring
than when she first began to crave for one.

"I'm going to bundle you off," Mary informed her. "I really must--or
was it anything special?"

It was all Trudy could do not to offer to play the confidential bosom
friend and urge Mary to show Beatrice where she stood. But somehow the
brisk business atmosphere, which was very real and brusque, prevented
her from saying anything except that she had wanted to talk to her.
She was lonesome--she was going to come some evening and have a good,
old-time visit.

"Of course--just let me know when."

"Oh"--archly--"are you busy on certain evenings?"

"Sometimes. French lessons; theatre; general odd jobs."

"No particular caller?"

"No," Mary laughed.

"I thought perhaps--you know, one time I came in and----"

"You came one time and found Mr. O'Valley," Mary hastened to add.
"Yes, I remember, but that was an unusual occurrence. He came in on
business and when he discovered I did not object to a pipe--he
stayed."

Trudy was disappointed. "Did Beatrice ever know?"

"Don't know myself." Mary was determined to win out. "I can't see why
she should--it would not interest her. She never listens to things
that do not interest her.... You won't know Luke. He grows like a
weed."

Trudy found herself dismissed. She did not know just how it had come
about but Mary was smiling her into the elevator and Trudy was sinking
to the ground floor feeling that though it was none of her business
unless she got a diamond ring she was just going to make other people
unhappy, too.

Why this co