retchedly mismanaged. One or the other of two brownstone fronts must
be her residence; he could not determine which. The nearest was
lighted from top to bottom. In the other a single pair of windows
only, on the second floor, showed the slightest sign of life.

Resolved to be equal to anything the adventure might require, he
mounted the steps of the lighted dwelling and rang the bell. He was
almost immediately admitted by a serving-man, who appeared a trifle
surprised to behold him, but who bowed him in as if he were expected,
with much formality and deference.

"What shall I call you?" he said.

Garrison was surprised, but he announced:

"Just Mr. Jerold."

A second door was opened; a gush of perfumed air, a chorus of gay young
voices, and a peal of laughter greeted Garrison's ears as the servant
called out his name.

Instantly a troop of brilliantly dressed young women came running from
the nearest room, all in fancy costume and all of them masked.
Evidently a fancy-dress party was about to begin in the house.
Garrison realized his blunder.

Before he could move, a stunning, superbly gowned girl, with bare neck
and shoulders that were the absolute perfection of beauty, came boldly
up to where the visitor stood. The others had ceased their laughter.

"Jerold!--how good of you to come!" said the girl, and, boldly patting
his face with her hand, she quickly darted from him, while the others
laughed with glee.

Garrison was sure he had never seen her before. Indeed, he had
scarcely had time to note anything about her, save that on her neck she
wore two necklaces--one of diamonds, the other of pearls, and both of
wonderful gems.

Then out from the room from which she had come stepped a man appareled
as Satan--in red from top to toe. He, too, was in mask. He joined in
the laughter with the others.

Garrison "found himself" with admirable presence of mind.

"My one regret is that I may not remain," he said, with a bow to the
ladies. "I might also regret having entered the wrong house, but your
reception renders such an emotion impossible."

He bowed himself out with commendable grace, and the bold masquerader
threw kisses as he went. Amused, quite as much as annoyed, at his
blunder, he made himself ready as best he might for another adventure,
climbed the steps of the dwelling next at hand, and once more rang the
bell.

Almost immediately the dark hall was lighted by the switching on of
lights.