She laughed a high, scornful tear-near laugh.

“Why — say — — ” Nick stared at her, and yet she felt he did not see her. A sudden peace came into his face — the peace of a longing fulfilled. He turned his head. A Lake Park Avenue street car was roaring its way toward them. He took a step toward the roadway. “I got to be going.”

Fear flashed its flame into Miss Bauers’s pale blue eyes. “Going! How do you mean, going? Going where?”

“I got to be going.” The car had stopped opposite them. His young face was stern, implacable. Miss Bauers knew she was beaten, but she clung to hope tenaciously, piteously. “I got to see a party, see?”

“You never said anything about it in the first place. Pity you wouldn’t