Elinor Benton may indeed have become adept at fooling her mother. At her worst, Marjorie Benton was never the dragon her daughter believed her, and it never occurred to her that her daughter might tell her untruths concerning her comings and goings. Her duty, she believed, was done when she insisted on her strict accounting. In the Benton household, however, there was one not so easily fooled. For a long time Howard Benton, though engaged himself in pursuits far from wholesome, had believed he had cause to wonder where his sister was headed. He had never caught her deliberately, however, until one night when he happened to be lounging at home, and Elinor came in upon him. She was exquisitely attired in evening dress and a beautiful ermine wrap was on her arm. “’Lo, sis,” called Howard, looking up from his paper. “Where’re you bound?” “I’m going over to Nell’s,” she told him. “She’s giving a little dinner.” Howard flung down his paper and scowled. “What’s your idea?” he demanded. “My idea?” “In lying to me?” “Why—why Howard—what do you mean?” “I know you’re not going to Nell’s,” he sneered, “because I have an engagement to take her to dinner and a show.” For a moment Elinor paled. “Heavens, what an escape,” she laughed, “suppose mother had been here. You won’t give me away, will you, Howard?” “Why should I bother to say anything.” He shrugged. “Only I would like to know where you’re going that you have to be so secret about it.” “As long as you’re such a good sport about it, I’ll tell you,” Elinor confided in a low and confidential tone, her glance flung hurriedly toward the door. “It’s Templeton Druid’s birthday, and he’s giving a little dinner in his apartment after the show. It’s going to be a jolly little affair and I so wanted to go. I knew I could never get out that late, so I’m going to spend the evening with Rosebud Greely and leave there in time to go to Templeton’s. I told mother I was going to Nell’s, because she likes her the best of all my girl friends.” “And how will you explain getting in so late from a dinner,” Howard inquired. “Mother won’t have any idea as to the time I get in,” she answered quickly. “She’ll be in bed—and if by any chance she should be up—leave it to me to think of something to say.” “Well, just the same, Sis, I don’t like it.” Howard fairly growled. “_You_ don’t like it,” she laughed heartily. “Well of all things—since when do I have to cater to your likes and dislikes?” “I know Templeton Druid pretty well,” he answered. “He’s a good bit of a rotter, and I don’t like to see my sister get mixed up with him.” “Why, Howard! When I told you I knew him, you said he was a good friend of yours, and one of the finest fellows you knew—didn’t you?” she asked spiritedly. “Yes; but I didn’t think you would fall for him like this. He chases after every girl he meets.”