The Salamander

generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue. Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of a

overing of painted eastern material. An elongated gilt mirror, twelve feet in height, leaned against the corner. Trunks were scattered about, two open and newly ransacked. A folding-bed transformed into a couch, heaped with cushions, was between the blind windows: opposite, a ponderous rococo dressing-table, the mirror stuffed with visiting-cards, photographs and

uster. The sunlight which struck at her ankles seemed to rise about her body, suffusing it with the glow of joy and youth. The neck was bare; the low, broad, rolling silk collar, which followed the graceful lines of the shoulders beneath, was softened by a full trailing bow of black

opposed, were like the past and the present of her wandering history: the first, brilliant, daring, alive with the im

s abandoned in lazy attention. In the embrasure of one window, camped tailor fashion in a lar

i-tumpety-

diamonds, I b

use? What

sition, discouraged and desperate; and in a characteristic impulse, against all remonstrances, had opened her room to her until better days. The other Salamande

coquetry, was simply dressed, braided about with stiff rapid coils. The dress was black, the waist unrelieved-the costume of the woman who works. What made the effect seem all the more sev

you reall

girl on the trunk, twisting anxi

at do you r

't show f

e from there? C

ayed, and seated herself according to the command of a little finger. Her complexion was very pale against the black of her

fting the glowing skirt

all r

all

all

d n

s, now i

vous streak of white had appe

o wear them!" said Doré, dropping her

e has a

m at three. We

eg, then, Dodo," replied Win

urst of laughter, and springing light

aid presently, after a moment's

said Winona,

to this serious comedy, crossed the room and returned to her post, b

glance, the tip of her tongue appearing a moment through th

They were of a deep ultramarine blue, an unusual cloudy shade which gave an

y dandy,

chamber outside the door came the ir

ickly. "Remember! you don't k

, pirouetted slowly twice. Lottie Snyder responded with a sudden smile that lighted up her features with a flash of beauty. She

ter-Cheshire? Wh

," said Dor

d went to the telephone, without closing the door. Winona, not to speak to Snyder,

.... Now, I'm going to tell you something, Mr. Chesterton. I'm not like other girls, I play fair. I expect men to make mistakes-one mistake. I always forgive once, and I always give one warning-just one! You understand? All right! I won't say any more!... No, I'm not offended.... I'm quite used to such mistakes: they sort of follow dances, don't they?... Well, that's nice; I'm glad you understand me.... Some men don't, you know!... That's very flattering!... If what?... If it's made a party of four

xtending her fingers

ll I remember! Oh, yes, he said he had two automobiles-most important!" She shrugged her shoulders and

She turned, hesitating: "Only,

tive of lavishness; on the other hand, a dinner or a luncheon that has

" said Doré, with a con

up for Sassoon," persisted Winona

aid Dodo; "I know

he throat was revealed, from the slight youthful bust delicately defined under the informality of the blouse, to the long descen

er little hands caressingly down the slim undulati

ne rang a s

presently, covering the

tily, in a half whisper. "N

said Winona, o

discipl

he must speak to you," said

and won't," said

pounced on a sailor hat, slapping it on her head without looking in the mirr

slur that accused ordinary antecedents. "Say, he's dipped on you; go

ll-I

ng to let everything slip

I'll do to-morrow?"

ver going to

deed; in

art; you're crazy

patient; I'm going

e h

ll-I

he

rrow-p

the shoulders, re

yourself this way! You can be

gging her shoulders, but opposing no resi

id Doré, vexed at the hang of the

comfort to the frantic Gilday in disgrace. Snyder, with the entrée to Blainey,

all the time?" she sai

ing w

out-never am

elf much mor

exclaime

more.

r jacket like a schoolboy, and

ature!" said

ng," said Doré warmly

think," said Winona coldly. "Really,

wn. Don't be so hard-you never know what may happen to you!" Seeing the flush on Winona's face, she softene

at promised to be the rage of the season. While secretly delighted at the prospect, Doré answered, in a tone of subdued suffering, that she was in bed with a frightful head-ache-that, though it seemed to be improving, she couldn't tell how she wo

ng gaily back and pirouetting twice on her left foo

non

ha

bor

ce w

py! If something exciting would

e when you

e!" said Doré, laughin

before ye

abou

talian you came h

at disappointment! It's the second meeting that's so awful! Men are so stupid, it's no fun an

uring sticks, drawing a deep breath. "Only, when I s

ob?" exclaimed Doré,

bitterly. "I'd go up Broad

n't you

girl, locking and unlocking her fingers. "S

ces are rare. She knew nothing of the girl who was separated from

rry!" s

y rope," said Winona. "I'm olde

ll have

t's ea

. I'll make Blaine

wo

us? He'll do anything I tell him! Tha

d, composing

fool!"

rd

ste

I! Never mind; we

ou take the

med Doré, laughing in order to relieve the tension. "When I

o one of Sassoon's partie

e! I'm qui

met hi

I'm going as a

ha

-I'm to replace one. I got the bid through Adèle

," said Winona

ing the expression. "I'm to be taken for a chorus gi

Some one'll r

ah

play fair!" sai

gero

me fair!" repeated Wino

pices!" said

xpress thi

n't you

ally. But w

" said Doré, sh

d her fingers and he

be ca

nfully, and a flash of excitement began to

oon is on the bl

, third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house, was the head of the great family of Sassoon, wh

know, you know what to do!" said D

anders were written down unfair. The prospect of such an antagonist brought to her a little more animation. She

the throat, a bit of the ankle, and a sl

st. Who's

ace

agitated by a patriotic craving to counteract the evil effects of the hoarding of gold. Each Salamander of good standing counts from three to a dozen props, carefully broken, kept in a state of expectant gratitude, genii of the telephon

a Summers, of the second floor back, bobb

eware! The cat's

of alarm, was spreading dismay through the two hou

ang to the door which gave into her room, re

iness!" said Doré solemnly. "I'm

iv

Doré pensively. "I have j

're a mil

ey-If he'd only call up for to-night! Zip might take the perfume, but I need it so! Worse luck, the flowers

and opening a little dra

!" exclaimed W

utting it up again. "Joe Gilday had the impertinenc

nona, carried away by the famin

etically. "Do you think I'd allow

nock broke in upon the conversation. The two girls started, half ex

" said Doré

y," said a

nquired Winona,

uffing back the overflowing contents of a trunk a

l pin in his cravat. On entering, he always blushed twice, the first as an apology and the second for having blushed before. The most captious Salamander would have accepted him at a glance as the beau ideal of a prop-a perfect blend of radiating expensiveness and docile timid

, gazing open-mouthed, heels together,

arrival, perceiving that he held one hand c

w, what are yo

Loan, with an anxiou

ubled beyond all reason. The sight of these flowers of luxury, the price of which would have gone a l

which, alas, did not bear the legend Pouffé, who was approachable in time of need. "Stacey is really

etly smothering a desire to laugh, and wondering how on earth she was to divide the monstrous display without di

last photogr

, signaling Winona, and turning before the long mirror, affixe

te!" said Winona, masking

the prop. "Come on, Stacey; you can look at the photos another day!" She flung about her shoulders a white stole from

r she reenter

are from Granard's. Take them there-tell them Estelle sent you; she has an a

r bunch, carefully arranging the wide st

with him, unless-unless Peavey wants me for dinner. I must see him before I dispose of the champagne-understand? You know what to answer the rest."

care

-yes

gero

only were-bu

hose nose was sublimel

. Up to Tenafly's.

emembering the offending stocking, stopp