The two girls continued to protest, averting their eyes, while the prop, alternately eager and hesitating, afraid that too abrupt an offer would offend their sensibilities, continued to run through the bewildering array of secret silks and laces. Perhaps he was decided finally by an encouraging wink from Zip, who thus telegraphed to him that, being his friend, he advised him to dare. Anyhow, very red and confused, he blurted out: "Look here, girls, don't be furious at me! Give me this pleasure, won't you? I've won an awful lot at bridge lately. Let me make a little present! By jove, Ida, your birthday's next week. Let me beat all the crowd to it. Vaughan'll be furious! What a lark! And you, Miss Baxter, do have a birthday too, won't you?" She laughed. "Mine's just passed." "Passed? Then I come in late. Bully for you! It's a go, isn't it? You're the right sort! I can't tell you how I appreciate it!" "I don't think I ought to," said Ida, looking doubtfully at Doré. "It is unusual, but I think Mr. Benson won't make any mistakes," said Doré, beaming on him with a smile of confidence. Benson shook her hand gratefully. Zip rubbed his hands together in delight, wagging his bearded head. "Goot, goot! Make de bretty kirls habby, eh? Vat apout it, hein? Trow in de shtockinks, eh?" The two girls exclaimed furiously. Benson, laughing and roguish, defended the pedler from their wrath, protesting he was loaded with money, crazy to get rid of it, carrying his point in the end. Zip, recipient of a hundred-dollar bill, departed, grinning and wagging; nor did Mr. Benson, in the joyous delight of this newly permitted intimacy, for a moment suspect that the silks and laces which now lay so provokingly on the table would presently return to the pack of the histrionic Zip, at forty per cent. off for commission. For the accuracy of historic customs, another detail must be added. When silk stockings were purchased, the color chosen was invariably pink, one pair of that color being in the cooperative possession, always at hand, to be borrowed hastily and worn for a convincing effect on the last purchaser. Ten minutes later Josephus produced a card which Ida, on receiving, said: "How stupid, Josephus! That's for Miss Baxter. Come on, Harry. Dodo's most particular and secretive--we won't embarrass her, will we?" She opened the door of Winona's room, lingering a moment behind the laughing prop to whisper: "Tell Tony to telephone this evening. Say I've called up from a studio--had to finish rush job--awful sorry! Be particular!" She disappeared, locking the door for security's sake. The next moment Mr. Tony Rex entered, in evident agitation and surprise--Ida and Harry Benson slipping down-stairs by the second stairway as Doré was saying glibly: "Oh, Mr. Rex, Miss Summers has just telephoned! She wants me to tell you--" But she proceeded no further. Mr. Tony Rex was watching her with a sarcastic smile.