one to rest; dancing like that
must be hard on the wind. He found little to interest him now in what
was going on on the stage. It seemed rather foolish. They were just
capering around and being foolish. They were a lot of second-raters.
And the young man--it was plain he didn't care a whit for them; he was
just doing it because he had to. There was a vacant seat in front. He
wished the girl behind the forest would come down and rest there. Then
she could see the show herself. Then she could see--

But there was a whirr from the forest, and the girl re-appeared, this
time all in red, but not nearly so much in red as she had previously
been in white. My, what a quick change she had made! And how her
skirt stood out like a rim when she whirled herself! And the young man
left all the rest and went to dance with her again. Dave was not
altogether pleased with that turn of events. But presently the dance
broke up, and they were flung again in line across the stage. And
there she was, all in red--no, not all in red, but certainly not in any
other colour--right before him. And then she looked down and smiled
again at him. And he smiled back. And then he looked at Conward and
saw him smiling, too. And then he felt a very distressing uncertainty,
which brought the colour slowly to his face. He resolved to say
nothing, but watch. And his observations convinced him that the smiles
had been for Conward, not for him. And then he lost interest in the
play.

They hustled into their overcoats to the playing of the National
Anthem. "Hurry," said Conward, "let's get out quick. Ain't she some
dame? There--through the side exit--the stage door is that way. She
promised to have her chum with her--they'll be waiting if we don't
hurry."

Conward steered him to the stage entrance, where a little group was
already congregated. In a moment the girl appeared, handsomely dressed
in furs. Dave would not have known her, but Conward recognized her at
once, and stepped forward. With her was another girl, also from the
chorus, but Dave could not recall her part. He was suddenly aware of
being introduced.

"This is my friend Belton," Conward was saying. Dave was about to
correct him when Conward managed to whisper, "Whist! Your stage name.
Mine's Elward. Don't forget."

Conward took the first girl by the arm, and Dave found himself
following rapidly with the other. They cut through certain side
streets, up a stair