"Oh, girls," cried Nolan plaintively, as he saw them in their beauty. "It is not fair of you to look like this. Marie, you are exquisite. Eveley, you ought to be ashamed of yourself." "Yes, we are," said Eveley pleasantly. "Jimmy, I want you to meet my darling and adorable little friend, Marie Ledesma. This is Lieutenant Ames, Marie." Lieutenant Ames stood very tall and slim and straight as he looked into Marie's face. Then he saw the soft appeal in her eyes. "Be good to me," they seemed to beg, "be generous, and kind." It was in answer to this plea of the limpid eyes that he held out his hand with sudden impulse, and said: "Miss Ledesma, when Eveley speaks like that, I know your friendship is a priceless boon, and I want my share of it. I am receiving a sort of psychic message that you and I are destined to be good comrades." A sudden wave of light swept over her lovely face, and her lips parted in a happy smile. "Lieutenant Ames," she whispered in her soft voice, "do you really feel so? And then you also are my friend?" "Jimmy Ames, you stop that," cried Eveley. "Marie belongs to me, and you must not even try to supplant me. I won't have it. Come on in, everybody, and let's play, play, play to our heart's content." Marie went through the window first, with a light slender swing of her feet. But Eveley, as always plunging impulsively, lost her balance and fell among the cushions. Nolan and the lieutenant followed laughing. "We must take a day off and teach Eveley the approved method of making entrance to a social gathering," said Nolan. "Are you all black and blue, you poor child?" he asked, helping her up, for she had waited patiently for his assistance. It was a wonderfully happy party. They played the Victrola, and danced merrily through the two rooms, around the reading table, through the archway, winding among the chairs in the dining-room. When they were tired, Marie brought her mandolin,--for having remarked once idly that she could play it, Eveley that night had brought her one as a little gift of love. And she played soft Spanish love-songs, singing in her pretty lilting voice. Then altogether they prepared their supper and because the night was still young and lovely, and they were happy and free from pressing care, they decided suddenly for a drive. They crossed the bay on the ferry to Coronado, and went down on the sands of the beach for a while, standing quietly to watch the silver tips of the waves shining in the pale moonlight. Then they drove out the Silver Strand and so home once more. Before they parted, they arranged for another party, two nights later, and after long discussion agreed that it should be an evening swimming party in the bay at Coronado, with a hot supper afterward in the Cloud Cote. "How did you like our Lieutenant Jimmy?" Eveley demanded, as soon as they were alone. "He is incomparable," said Marie simply.