But nothin' can drag Ira's gaze from that revolvin' exit door for more'n half a minute. There he stands, watchin' eager every couple that comes out; not excited or fidgety, you understand, but calm and in dead earnest. It got to be midnight, then half past, then quarter to one; and then all of a sudden there comes a ripplin', high-pitched laugh, and out trips a giddy-dressed fairy in a gilt and rhinestone turban effect with a tall plume stickin' straight up from the front of it. She's one of these big, full-curved, golden brunettes, with long jet danglers in her ears and all the haughty airs of a grand opera star. I didn't dream it was the one we was lookin' for until I sees Ira straighten up and step out to meet her. "Nellie," says he, sort of choky and pleadin'. It's a misfire, though; for just then she's turned to finish some remark to a fat old sport with flat ears and bags under his eyes that's followin' close behind. So it ain't until she's within a few feet of Higgins that she sees him at all. Then she stares at him sort of doubtful, like she could hardly believe her eyes. "Nellie," he begins again, "I've been wanting to tell you how it was that----" "You!" she breaks in. And with that she throws her head back and laughs. It wa'n't what you might call a pleasant laugh, either. It sounds cold and hard and bitter. That's the extent of the reunion too. She's still laughin' as she brushes by him and lets the old sport help her into the taxi; and a second later we're left standin' there at the edge of the curb with another taxi rollin' up in front of us. I notices that Ira's holdin' something in his hand that he's starin' at foolish. It's the satin box with the seventeen-fifty ring in it. "Well," says I, as we steps back, "returns all in, ain't they?" "Not by a long shot!" says Ira. "Dinged if I don't know someone that'll be glad to take a ring from me, and that's Maggie!" "Whew!" says I. "Well, that's some quick shift. Then you ain't goin' to linger round with a busted heart?" "Not much!" says Ira. "Guess I've played fool about long enough. I'm goin' home." "That's gen'rally a safe bet too," says I. "But how about buildin' that boat for Mr. Robert?" "I'll build it," says he; "that is, soon as I can fix it up with Maggie." "Then it's a cinch," says I; "for you look to me, Ira, like one of the kind that can come back strong." So, you see, I had somethin' definite to report next mornin'. "He will, eh? Bully!" says Mr. Robert. "But why couldn't he have said as much to me yesterday? What was the trouble?" "Case of moth chasin'," says I, "from the kerosene circuit to the white lights. But, say, I didn't know before that Broadway had so many recruitin' stations. They ought to put Boothbay Harbor on the map for this." CHAPTER IV TORCHY BUGS THE SYSTEM