Bearcat felt a wave of uneasiness sweep over him. He knew Charlie was suspicious of his actions the night before. He felt guilty, but he resented Charlie’s suspicion, the more so because Charlie was right.

“Nice day,” the Bearcat murmured.

“Perfect,” said Charlie. “How about gain’ for a auto ride this afternoon? We can drive up through Westchester, have dinner on the way back and you can hit the hay early. You got to get down to the gym early Monday morning.”

This suggestion did not suit Bearcat at all. Another time he would have welcomed it. But now, if he went riding with Charlie, he would not be able to keep his appointment with Babe.

The day clerk stuck his head around the corner of the cashier’s cage and called.

“Telephone for Mr. Delaney.”

The Bearcat went briskly to an extension.

Charlie wondered who it could be. He hoped it was not Babe. He had failed to warn the day clerk to switch to him all calls from women intended for the Bearcat.

“Hello,” said the Bearcat.

The rich, alluring voice of Babe Gordon came to his ear.

“Hello, honey,” said Babe. “How are you this morning?”

The Bearcat lowered his voice.

“Babe, I’m glad you called up.”

“Are you, dear?” asked Babe. “Well, I just got back from church, and I thought I’d give you a ring.”

If Babe had gone to church, and just got back, she certainly must have attracted a lot of attention from the congregation, for as she now stood talking over the pay telephone in the hall of her rooming house, she wore a pink dressing gown and underneath it the sheerest of step-ins which would have popped the eyes out of the most near-sighted of deacons.

“Church?” queried the Bearcat, mildly surprised. “Well, you’re better than me. I didn’t go at all. I just about got out of bed. But as long as you go for both of us, I guess it’s all right.”

“Oh, I said a prayer for you,” lied Babe. “Honey, it’s almost twelve o’clock. Couldn’t I meet you at one and have dinner with you, instead of waiting until tonight?”

“Well, I’d sure like to,” said the Bearcat, earnestly. “But Charlie wants me to go ridin’ with him up to Westchester or some place. I don’t want to go, but how can I get out of it, without gettin’ him sore?”

Babe thought quickly.

“If you went with him you wouldn’t get back to meet me tonight. So why not meet me on my corner in a half hour? Then after we eat you can go ridin’ with Charlie. There’s no use in startin’ trouble with him now.”

“All right,” the Bearcat agreed. “Maybe that’ll be the best for today anyhow. I’ll meet you in a half hour at your corner.”

“Good-by, baby,” said Babe. “Don’t keep me waitin’.”