Promptly at seven o'clock on the following evening he returned to his post, and before he had been there five minutes knew that his presence was noticed. This was encouraging, so he focused his mental powers in an effort to communicate telepathically with the object of his desires. But she seemed unattuned, and coyly refrained from showing her face. He undertook to loiter gracefully, knowing himself to be the target of many eyes, but found it extremely hard to refrain from sitting on the curb, a manifestly unromantic attitude for a love-lorn swain. He swore grimly that, if usage required a suitor to make an exhibition of himself before the entire neighborhood, he would do the job thoroughly. It did not cheer him to reflect that the girl had a keen sense of humor and must be laughing at him, yet he determined to put in a week at this idiotic love-making before he attempted anything else. Later in the evening he was rewarded by the glimpse of a handkerchief cautiously waved, and he was delirious with joy as he hobbled homeward. Night after night he spent assiduously studying the cracks and blemishes in the stucco walls of No. 89 Avenida Norte, encouraged by the occasional flutter of a hand or a soulful sigh from behind the lace screen at the third window from the corner. But when Sunday came he was in no mood to continue this roundabout and embarrassing mode of courtship longer. He made an early start from his quarters, taking Allan with him. "I'll catch her going to mass," he explained, hopefully. "I've just got to put an end to this performance." "Will you h'accost her h'openly?" inquired Allan. "You bet! If she runs away you trip her up. Oh, it's great to be in love!" "Without doubt, sar." "She's a corker, isn't she?" "I do not know as to that," Allan demurred. "What may be a carker?" "I mean she's beautiful." "Oh, h'indeed so! And her h'eyes--like h'ink spots, as you say." "Was she wearing a denim dress when you saw her?" "Yes, yes," eagerly agreed the negro. "Oh, there is no mistake. It was a red dress." "No, it wasn't. It was blue." "H'exactly, sar--a sort of reddish blue." "And she was--petite?" "Rather more dark, I should say." "I mean she was small." "Oh, it is the same female. It is h'exciting, is it not?" Kirk acknowledged that it was exciting, for, now that he had a full day in which to besiege No. 89, he felt certain of gaining a word at least with his inamorata. He was in good time, it seemed, for hardly had he taken his customary station before the Cathedral bells awoke the slumberous echoes of the city. "Praise God, she will be coming soon!" Allan exclaimed. "I shall h'expire from fright. Look! There! THERE!"