Babe threw the shutter open wide and waved a part of the white curtain to attract the Bearcat’s attention.

He had been studying the houses carefully and wondering which flat she might be in. He had only permitted his eyes to wander away from that row of houses for brief lengths of time.

He saw her waving now. His heart leaped with joy.

“She wants me!” he exclaimed.

Like a flash he was across the street and up the steps to the second-floor flat.

Big Ida saw him go in, but because his clothes were much like those worn by other callers at the house she paid little attention to him.

Babe had placed a chair under the knob of the door leading from the parlor into the hall. Now the lock was useless. She went to the door in the dining room and waited for the Bearcat.

His face lighted up when he saw her standing there.

“God!” he cried. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I met Jenny. She told me you was here. She gimme the street address but I forgot to get the number. I been standing out there more’n a hour.”

He spoke rapidly, nervously. Babe paid little heed to what he was saying. She closed the door after him and locked it, while he was talking. Then when she turned around he took her in his arms and kissed her.

“Gee! I’m glad to see you. I been so worried lookin’ for you. But, say, ain’t I lookin’ swell? I’m back in shape again, honey.” Then he noticed her pallor for the first time and felt her tremble in his arms. “Why—why, what’s the matter, you’re all nervous.”

Babe moved away from him a step.

“Sit down,” she said. “Sit down a minute, dear. I want to talk to you about somethin’.”

The Bearcat gave her an anxious look.

“What’s the matter, dear? Are ya sick or somethin’?” He couldn’t quite make her out.

“No,” Babe said, slowly. “I’m in a lot of trouble, Bearcat. God! I don’t know how to start to tell you.”

She paced the floor.

The Bearcat stood up and took her in his arms again.

“What is it? Tell me—what is it? What trouble? Tell me. Anybody doin’ anythin’ to you?”

She felt that she needed his strong arms around her for ever.

“I don’t know how to tell you! I don’t know!”

She broke down then, and tears filled her eyes. It was the first time that the Bearcat had ever seen her cry.

“For God’s sake, tell me I” he pleaded. “What is it?”

Babe with a half-hearted gesture pointed toward the parlor.

“He’s in there. He’s in there.”