s was enough to exasperate a steadier-nerved man than myself.
It drove me, barely convalescent from mental collapse, to distraction.

"'Here,' I said, rudely, standing up, 'you will not stop talking, so I
must stop work. I'll give it up and go home.'

"'Oh, don't let me disturb you,' she said, pleadingly, as she, too,
rose and approached me; 'I will be quiet, I really will.'

"But I smelt the odor of liquor again now plainly from her breath, and
I did not believe that she could stop talking if she tried. My
resolution to go was made stronger.

"I went to a cabinet at the far end of the studio, to get some papers I
wished to carry home with me. I returned quickly.

"But, in that short time, she had made changes; she had laid aside her
hat and jacket when she came in, but now she stood before my mirror,
shaking her hair down her back, and unbuttoning her collar. She smiled
sweetly as she turned to me.

"Without a word, I caught up my hat, and fled.

"Down in the street, I looked at my watch. It was nearly midnight. It
would take me until two in the morning to get home, where I would have
to wake my wife, and relate the whole truth--or else tell her a lie as
to why I was home a day ahead of time. I cared to do neither, and
thought of a hotel. But, though I had a commutation ticket in my
pocket, my money was now reduced to twenty-five cents--not enough to
pay for a night's lodging. There was not a soul left in that darkened
building to whom I could appeal.

"Then I bethought me of a friend of many years' standing, who lived on
the top floor of a bachelor apartment not far away. With my grip in my
hand, I hurried to his street, and was taken up by the elevator to the
top floor, dimly lighted and bordered with doors.

"I knew his door, and knocked on it. There was no answer. I knocked
again and again, but he did not respond. At last, in desperation, I
rang for the elevator, and asked the attendant where my friend was. The
boy did not know, but thought that the gentleman must be in, and
asleep.

"However, I went down, and waited for a half-hour at the door, hoping
that he had been out late and would soon appear. But he did not, and I
went up again, resolved to batter down his door, if necessary. I began
the attack at once, and, though I produced no effect on the door, I did
upon my knuckles and the repose of other tenants of the floor. Doors
opened, and tired, sleepy voices inquired the reason of the tumult. I
made