manner, he touched Miss Billy's arm.

"Yes; we'll go. Come," he apparently agreed. But once outside on the
broad expanse before the Subway entrance he stopped again. "Miss Billy,
please come home," he implored. "Ye don't know--ye can't know what yer
a-doin'!"

The girl tossed her head. She was angry now.

"Pete, if you will not go with me I shall go alone. I am not afraid."

"But the hour--the place--you, a young girl! Miss Billy!" remonstrated
the old man agitatedly.

"It isn't so very late. I've been out lots of times later than this
at home. And as for the place, it's all light and bright, and lots of
people were going in--ladies and gentlemen. Nothing could hurt me, Pete,
and I shall go; but I'd rather you were with me. Why, Pete, we mustn't
leave him. He isn't--he isn't HIMSELF, Pete. He--he's been DRINKING!"
Billy's voice broke, and her face flushed scarlet. She was almost
crying. "Come, you won't refuse now!" she finished, resolutely turning
toward the street.

And because old Pete could not pick her up bodily and carry her home,
he followed close at her heels. At the head of the marble stairs "all
lights and mirrors," however, he made one last plea.

"Miss Billy, once more I beg of ye, won't ye come home? Ye don't know
what yer a-doin', Miss Billy, ye don't--ye don't!"

"I can't go home," persisted Billy. "I must get Mr. Bertram away from
that man. Now come; we'll just stand at the door and look in until we
see him. Then I'll go straight to him and speak to him." And with that
she turned and ran down the steps.

Billy blinked a little at the lights which, reflected in the great
plate-glass mirrors, were a million dazzling points that found
themselves again repeated in the sparkling crystal and glittering silver
on the flower-decked tables. All about her Billy saw flushed-faced men,
and bright-eyed women, laughing, chatting, and clinking together their
slender-stemmed wine glasses. But nowhere, as she looked about her,
could Billy descry the man she sought.

The head waiter came forward with uplifted hand, but Billy did not see
him. A girl at her left laughed disagreeably, and several men stared
with boldly admiring eyes; but to them, too, Billy paid no heed. Then,
halfway across the room she spied Bertram and Seaver sitting together at
a small table alone.

Simultaneously her own and Bertram's eyes met.

With a sharp word under his breath Bertram sprang to his feet. His
befogged brain had cleared