ld school chum. She had never been in New York, and she
did not know that my 'office' was a bachelor's apartment. But her visit
had been prearranged, and I had written the invitation on my studio
stationery, so that her response was quite innocent; yet, I had
peculiar reasons--aside from the presence there of my penniless and
interesting protegee--for not wishing her to visit my place in town.

"I had paid her fully as much attention before her marriage as I had my
wife; in fact, I courted them both at once, in order to arouse their
sense of pique. Not a strictly honorable thing to do, had either of
them cared for me, initially; but neither did care, and I might not
have won my wife by any other plan. The two were bad friends for a
while, and, to this day, my wife cannot rid herself of a very slight
jealousy. So, you see the reason for my anxiety to avoid any
possibility of complications.

"I had just enough time in which to get to the ferry, and, after
emphasizing to the widow the necessity of her getting Bunker's key
before he left, and of leaving my studio empty against the possible
arrival of Mrs. Milner without me, I rushed away.

"I reached the ferry on time; but Mrs. Milner was not there, nor did
she come, though I waited until seven o'clock. Then I inquired, and an
official informed that the five-thirty--the train boat--had met with an
accident, and had landed her passengers at the nearest dock, which was
a little further up. I hurried there, but Mrs. Milner was not visible.
At last, fearing lest she had gone to the studio, and had met the widow
with that picturesque black eye, I hastened uptown again.

"At the street-door I met Bunker--drunk as a lord.

"'Is she up there yet?' I asked, anxiously.

"'Who?' he answered, in a tone that told me he had forgotten.

"'Did you give her your key? Give me that key--the key of your studio.
Hurry up!'

"A dim light of intelligence flashed over his cheerful face, and he
grinned.

"'Oh, yesh--yesh; thash so!' He pulled out a bunch of keys. 'Here's
keys, ol' man--street-door key and studio key.'

"As he staggered off, I bounded up the stairs, with the two keys he had
pulled from his bunch.

"The widow met me at my door.

"'Has a lady called here?' I asked, hastily.

"'Somebody peeped in,' she said. 'It may have been a lady, but I
thought it was Mr. Bunker, and as soon as I could--I was dressing my
eye--I followed out; but he was gone.'

"'Oh, Lord!' I groane