"Well, you brought me here," she said at last. "You've fed me, and you don't feed anybody, Conward, without a purpose. What's the consideration?" "Yes, I have a purpose," he admitted. "I'm pulling off a little joke, and I want you to help me." "You're some joker," she returned. "Who have you got it in for?" "You know Elden--Dave Elden?" "Sure. I've known him ever since that jolt put him out of business up in your rooms, ever so many years ago. He was too rural for that mixture. Still, Elden has lots of friends--decent friends, I mean." "I'm rather sorry you know him," said Conward. "But--what's more to the point--does he know you?" "Not he. I guess he had no memory the next morning, and would have made a point of forgetting me, even if he had." "That's all right, then. Now I want you to get him down to your place some night to be agreed upon--I'll fix the date later--and keep him there until I call for him, with his _fiancee_." "Some joke," she said, and there was disgust in her voice. "Who is it on: Elden, me, or the girl?" "Never mind who it's on," Conward returned. "I'm paying for it. Here's something on account, and if you make a good job of it, I won't be stingy." He handed her a bill, which she kissed and put in her purse. "I need the money, Conward, or I wouldn't take it. Say, don't you know you're wasting your time in this one-horse town? You ought to get into the big league. Your jokes would sure make a hit." This part of his trap set, Conward awaited a suitable opportunity to spring it. In the meantime he took Mrs. Hardy partially into his confidence. He allowed her to believe, however, that Elden's habits would stand correction, and he had merely arranged to trap him in one of his favorite haunts. She was very much shocked, and thought it was very dreadful, but of course we must save Irene. Mr. Conward was very clever. That's what came of being a man of experience,--and judgment, Mr. Conward, and some knowledge of the world. But concerning another part of his programme Conward was even less frank with Mrs. Hardy. He was clever enough to know that he must observe certain limitations. At length all his plans appeared to be complete. The city was in a tumult of excitement over the war, but for Conward a deeper interest centred in the plot he was hatching under the unsuspecting noses of Irene and Elden. If he could trap Dave the rest would be easy. If he failed in this he had another plan to give failure at least the appearance of success. The fact that the nation was now at war probably had an influence in speeding up the plot. Everything was under high tension; powerful currents of thought were bearing the masses along unaccustomed channels; society itself was in a state of flux. If he were to strike at all let the blow fall at once. On this early August night he ascertained that Dave was working alone in his office. Then he called a number on a telephone.