"For you, I fancy. I ran across Wilks the other day and he said he heard Hebler say, 'He'd get that thief if he never did another thing.' So lay low. Are you here alone in town to-day?" "Alone and untethered for the first time in ages. Same with you?" "You're right as to the alone part; but I am not altogether free. I have to give an exhibition fool flight this afternoon in my little old flier. We'll have dinner together, and the rest of the day. Will you?" "Will I? Try me." "What's the idea, Pen?" he asked as they went into the long dining-room and chose a remote table. "I don't know, Larry. I had one, but I seem to have lost it in trying to pick up others. I'm floundering." "You've always been in wrong, Pen. Wish you'd find your level. You made me ashamed of my old life. I am string-straight now, thanky." "I am glad, Larry. You never were crooked, you know--just a bit reckless. Tell me about yourself." "You gave me a good steer when you suggested this sky stuff. I don't believe a flying man could be very bad--up there in the clouds in a world all his own. Whenever I felt as if I must break over the traces and go off for a time, I'd just get into my little old flier and hit the high spots and that would give me more thrills than all the thirst parlors ever brought. I am going soon to fly for France. In fact, I'm 'on my way' now." "Larry! I _am_ proud of you! But it tugs at my heartstrings to have you go, and in an aeroplane!" "Did you ever go up, Pen?" "No; it's about the only exciting thing I haven't done, and it's the only stunt I ever lacked the nerve to tackle." "Terrors of the unknown? I'm booked for some of that fancy flying this afternoon, and you can watch me from the field." "I knew this was to be a real day, but I never hoped for such a big handful of luck as seeing you again and in such a good act." "Always invest heavily in hope, Pen. It is free to all, and you come out ahead because you get your dividends in anticipating anyway, and you know anticipation--" "Hold on, Larry, don't be a bromide!" "Everyone is a bromide now. Sulphides are all in the asylums. I am hoping for a chance to win the _medal militaire_--I mean for the chance to do something worth getting one." Pen's pleasure in her surreptitious expedition, the delight in shopping and the excitement of meeting some one from her former life had brought a most vivid beauty to her delicate face, and Larry looked at her with an approval that brought forth a sudden wonder. "Say, Pen!" he exclaimed excitedly, "you haven't got a man up there at your ranch, have you?" "Certainly; two of them," she replied assuredly. "That's all right. So long as there are two, it's nothing serious. Safety in numbers, remember." After dinner they motored out to the field where the exhibition was to be given. A coatless, tanned, weather-beaten crowd had already gathered.