But after that Bob couldn’t get rid of him. It was as if he knew something was wrong and that Bob needed watching. He began to fool with the balls, telling how hard it was for him to get accustomed to these small American tables. The British game was far better, he went on, all the while keeping his eyes pretty closely on Bob, until the latter got desperate and went back to where people were. But the monocle-man went, too. By this time Bob was convinced the other knew what was in his pocket. “Caught with the goods!” That’s the way the yellow press would describe his predicament. “Aren’t you the regular hermit-crab?” It was the temperamental little thing’s reproachful voice that at this point broke in upon his sorrowful meditations, and Bob turned to her quickly. At the moment he was awfully glad she had come up. “What have you been doing?” she went on. “Oh, just rolling the balls. Will you dance?” Eagerly. “Can’t! Engaged. You should have asked me sooner and not run away.” Then perhaps she saw how disappointed Bob looked or caught that desperate expression in his eyes, for she added: “Yes, I will. Can say I was engaged to you first and forgot. Come on.” Bob did. He was a little afraid the monocle-man might not let him, but the other permitted him to dance. Perhaps he wouldn’t have done so if he had known what was in Bob’s mind. That young man felt as if he had now truly reached his last ditch. “Say, I’m in an awful hole,” he breathed to the temperamental little thing, as they glided over the floor. “Are you?” She snuggled closer. “Anything worse than has been?” “A heap worse! I’ve got something I simply must get rid of.” “What is it?” she said in a thrilling whisper. “A ring.” Hoarsely. “No. Whose?” “Miss Gerald’s.” More hoarsely still. “How wildly exciting! Though I didn’t think you would rob her.” In an odd voice. “I didn’t.” “But you say you’ve got her ring?” “Some one put it in my pocket.” “Isn’t it the funny little hermit-crab, though!” she answered. “Well, never mind whether you believe me or not. The point is, I’ve got to get rid of it and I can’t. That monocle-man is watching me. I need help.” “Mine?” Snuggling once more. “Yours. Will you do it?” “Didn’t I tell you I’d go through fire and water for you? Am I not now your eternal and everlasting chum? Say it.” “What?” “That jolly-little-pal talk.” “Jolly little pal!” he breathed in her ear. She sighed happily. “Now what do you want me to do?” “I want you to take this ring”—slipping it into her fingers—“and return it to Miss Gerald’s room. You can slip in without attracting any attention. Besides no one would think anything of your going in her room, even if you were seen doing so—you’re such friends.” “But,” she said wonderingly, “I don’t see why you took it at all if—” She broke off—“Unless that monocle-man knows you’ve got it on you?” “That’s the point,” observed Bob hoarsely. “All right,” she assented. “I’ll do it. When?” “Now.”