"That's right," Marc said, looking up. "Please sit down." He gestured toward Toffee. "This is Miss--uh--Miss----" "Don't embarrass yourself Mr. Pillsworth," cut in Ruby, turning an appraising eye on Toffee. "I know the type. They don't come with names--just sizes." She smiled maliciously. "And what's yours in mink coats, dear?" Toffee's answering gaze dwelt indolently on Miss Marlow's expanding hips. "About five smaller than yours in girdles, hon," she said sweetly. With all the callousness of the seasoned warrior, Ruby accepted this retort, and eased the objects that had inspired it into a vacant chair. She leaned forward and smiled at Marc. "What can I do for you?" she asked coyly. "I like your singing," Marc lied with apparent irrelevance. "I'm so glad to hear it," Ruby was all graciousness as she said it. "For the first time in your life," Toffee appended viciously. "But I like it even better in the open air," Marc said evenly. "Your street singing left me with quite an impression." * * * * * Gone were the days of Ruby's innocence, but she wasn't above trying to look lamb-like when the occasion seemed to demand it. She did so now. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "Okay," Marc countered, "we'll skip that, but who were you working for?" "You heard me," Ruby said, trying to look indignant. "I don't know what you're talking about. From where I'm sitting, it just sounds like the wind whistling through the holes in your head." "Stop the kidding," Marc demanded. "I know you took the brief case, and I intend to have it back. Where is it?" "Search me!" said Ruby. "If he does," put in Toffee, "I'll scratch his eyes out." Ruby turned on Toffee a searing gaze that knocked in her teeth, tore the gown from her back, and left her bent and bleeding in a dark alley. "I'm getting out of here," she announced, pushing back her chair. "You're both nuts." It was Marc's guess that the flambuoyant Miss Marlow would probably be considered a flop in her own social set without a police record, and took a chance on it. "Just a minute," he said. "There are a few boys on the force that would like to know where you are, since you've dyed your hair, and if you don't level off right now, I'll have them on you like a swarm of flies." Ruby settled back in her chair immediately. "Okay! okay!" she said. "You don't have to yell about it. I'll tell you the whole thing. After all, I was only hired to go downtown and yell like crazy, and pick up any loose brief cases I happened to see lying around. There's nothing illegal in that." "Who hired you?" Ruby glanced nervously around the room, and then suddenly smiled. "All right," she said pleasantly. "I'll tell you. You see that guy sitting over there? The rough looking bird in the opposite corner. That's Manny Groute, the racketeer. He hired me."