ilding seemed deserted. The tenants were
all on trips to the country and the seashore. The day was one of rare
beauty and warmth. Someone was fumbling in the dark on the third floor
back.

He made his way quickly to her room, and softly knocked, waited a moment
and knocked again. There was no response. He couldn't be mistaken. He
had seen her lean out of that window every day the past week.

Perhaps she was busy in the kitchenette and the noise from the street
made it impossible to hear.

He placed his hand on the doorknob.

From the darkness of the hall, in a quick, tiger leap, Ella threw
herself on him and grappled for his throat.

"What are you doing at that door, you dirty thief?" she growled.

"Here! Here! What'ell--what's the matter with you?" he gasped, gripping
her hands and tearing them from his neck. "I'm no thief!"

"You are! You are, too!" she shrieked. "I heard you sneak in the door
downstairs--heard you slippin' like a cat upstairs! Get out of here
before I call a cop!"

She was savagely pushing him back to the landing of the stairs. With a
sudden lurch, Jim freed himself and gripped her hands.

"Cut it! Cut it! Or I'll knock your block off! I've come to take my girl
to ride----"

He drew a match and quickly lighted the gas as Mary's footstep echoed on
the stairs below.

"Well, she's coming now--we'll see," was the sullen answer.

Ella surveyed him from head to foot, her one eye gleaming in angry
suspicion.

Mary sprang up the last step and saw the two confronting each other. She
had heard the angry voices from below.

"Why, Ella, what's the matter?" she gasped.

"He was trying to break into your room----"

Jim threw up his hands in a gesture of rage, and Mary broke into a
laugh.

"Why, nonsense, Ella, I asked him to come! This is Mr. Anthony,"--her
voice dropped,--"my fiance."

Ella's figure relaxed with a look of surprise.

"Oh, ja?" she murmured, as if dazed.

"Yes--come in," she said to Jim. "Sorry I was out. I had to run to the
grocer's for the Kitty."

Ella glared at Jim, turned and began to light the other hall lamps
without any attempt at apology.

Jim entered the room with a look of awe, took in its impression of
sweet, homelike order and recovered quickly his composure.

"Gee, you're the dandy little housekeeper! I could stay here forever."

"You like it?"

"It's a bird's nest." He glanced in the mirror and saw the print of
Ella's fingers on his collar. "Will you