. This is your street, I believe."

They shook hands cordially.

* * * * *

After dining _en famille_, Shotwell Junior considered the various
diversions offered to young business men after a day of labour.

There were theatres; there was the Club de Vingt and similar agreeable
asylums; there was also a telephone to ring, and unpremeditated
suggestions to make to friends, either masculine or feminine.

Or he could read and improve his mind. Or go to Carnegie Hall with his
father and mother and listen to music of sorts.... Or--he could call
up Elorn Sharrow.

He couldn't decide; and his parents presently derided him and departed
music-ward without him. He read an evening paper, discarded it, poked
the fire, stood before it, jingled a few coins and keys in his
pocket, still undecided, still rather disinclined to any exertion,
even as far as the club.

"I wonder," he thought, "what that girl is doing now. I've a mind to
call her up."

He seemed to know whom he meant by "that girl." Also, it was evident
that he did not mean Elorn Sharrow; for it was not her number he
called and presently got.

"Miss Dumont?"

"Yes? Who is it?"

"It's a mere nobody. It's only your broker----"

"_What!!_"

"Your real-estate broker----"

"Mr. Shotwell! How absurd of you!"

"Why absurd?"

"Because I don't think of you merely as a real-estate broker."

"Then you _do_ sometimes think of me?"

"What power of deduction! What logic! You seem to be in a particularly
frivolous frame of mind. Are you?"

"No; I'm in a bad one."

"Why?"

"Because I haven't a bally thing to do this evening."

"That's silly!--with the entire town outside.... I'm glad you called
me up, anyway. I'm tired and bored and exceedingly cross."

"What are you doing, Miss Dumont?"

"Absolutely and idiotically nothing. I'm merely sitting here on the
only chair in this scantily furnished house, and trying to plan what
sort of carpets, draperies and furniture to buy. Can you imagine the
scene?"

"I thought you had some things."

"I haven't anything! Not even a decent mirror. I stand on the
slippery edge of a bath tub to get a complete view of myself. And then
it's only by sections."

"That's tragic. Have you a cook?"

"I have. But no dining room table. I eat from a tray on a packing
case."

"Have you a waitress?"

"Yes, and a maid. They're comfortable. I bought their furniture
immediately and also the