own that I wish to keep I have put in
storage, and the remainder went to James's Auction Rooms. The house is
sold, and I am leaving in the morning."

"Then that explains," questioned Linda, "why you refused Eileen's
invitation to dinner tonight?"

"On the contrary," answered Marian, "an invitation to dinner tonight
would be particularly and peculiarly acceptable to me, since the kitchen
is barren as the remainder of the house, and I was intending to slip
over when your room was lighted to ask if I might spend the night with
you."

Linda suddenly gathered her friend in her arms and held her tight.

"Well, thank heaven that you felt sufficiently sure of me to come to me
when you needed me. Of course you shall spend the night with me; and I
must have been mistaken in thinking Eileen had been here. She probably
will come any minute. There are guests for the night. John is bringing
that writer friend of his. Of course you know about him. It's Peter
Morrison."

Marian nodded her head. "Of course! John has always talked of him. He
had some extremely clever articles in The Post lately."

"Well, he is one," said Linda, "and an architect who is touring with him
is two; they are looking for a location to build a house for the writer.
You can see that it would be a particularly attractive feather in our
cap if he would endorse our valley sufficiently to home in it. So
Eileen has invited them to sample our brand of entertainment, and in the
morning no doubt she will be delighted to accompany them and show them
all the beautiful spots not yet preempted."

"Oh, heavens," cried Marian, "I'm glad I never showed her my spot!"

"Well, if you are particular about wanting a certain place I sincerely
hope you did not," said Linda.

"I am sure I never did," answered Marian. "I so love one spot that I
have been most secretive about it. I am certain I never went further
than to say there was a place on which I would love to build for myself
the house of my dreams. I have just about finished getting that home
on paper, and I truly have high hopes that I may stand at least a fair
chance of winning with it the prize Nicholson and Snow are offering.
That is one of the reasons why I am hurrying on my way to San Francisco
much sooner than I had expected to go. I haven't a suitable dinner dress
because my trunks have gone, but among such old friends it won't matter.
I have one fussy blouse in my bag, and I'll be over as soon as I can see
to