And all those thousands of
women, in white--still, a thing as huge as this parade has to be reduced
to a common denominator, to be really successful. If somebody could take
the whole thing, boil it down, and make the country see what this huge
demonstration stands for."

Fanny leaned forward suddenly. "Tell the man to stop. I want to get
out."

Fenger and Ella stared. "What for?" But Fenger obeyed.

"I want to get something at this stationer's shop." She had jumped down
almost before the motor had stopped at the curb.

"But let me get it."

"No. You can't. Wait here." She disappeared within the shop. She was
back in five minutes, a flat, loosely wrapped square under her arm.
"Cardboard," she explained briefly, in answer to their questions.

Fenger, about to leave them at their hotel, presented his plans for the
evening. Fanny, looking up at him, her head full of other plans, thought
he looked and sounded very much like Big Business. And, for the moment
at least, Fanny Brandeis loathed Big Business, and all that it stood
for.

"It's almost seven," Fenger was saying. "We'll be rubes in New York,
this evening. You girls will just have time to freshen up a bit--I
suppose you want to--and then we'll have dinner, and go to the theater,
and to supper afterward. What do you want to see?"

Ella looked at Fanny. And Fanny shook her head, "Thanks. You're awfully
kind. But--no."

"Why not?" demanded Fenger, gruffly.

"Perhaps because I'm tired. And there's something else I must do."

Ella looked relieved. Fenger's eyes bored down upon Fanny, but she
seemed not to feel them. She held out her hand.

"You're going back to-morrow?" Fenger asked. "I'm not leaving until
Thursday."

"To-morrow, with Ella. Good-by. It's been a glorious drive. I feel quite
rested."

"You just said you were tired."

The elevator door clanged, shutting out the sight of Fenger's resentful
frown.

"He's as sensitive as a soubrette," said Ella. "I'm glad you decided not
to go out. I'm dead, myself. A kimono for the rest of the evening."

Fanny seemed scarcely to hear her. With a nod she left Ella, and entered
her own room. There she wasted no time. She threw her hat and coat on
the bed. Her suitcase was on the baggage stand. She turned on all the
lights, swung the closed suitcase up to the table, shoved the table
against the wall, up-ended the suitcase so that its leather side
presented a smooth surface, and propped a firm sheet of white c