“Yes, of course, I know,” she said.

“And I’m Mike Jurgens,” Jurgens said coldly. “Just as long as we’re so chummy, I might as well introduce myself, too. I’m Miss Stafford’s escort for this evening.”

“Hello,” McKay said without interest.

“Mike’s in the movies,” Terry said. “He’s been in Dark Victory, and Terror at Midnight, and—oh, lots of films, I guess.”

“Must have missed them,” McKay said. He finished his drink and scrambled to his feet. “Well, time to get back to the old grind. Nice to meet you, Miss Stafford. Terry. And you, Jurgens. Come hear us again some time.”

McKay returned to the bandstand and within a few moments was leading his orchestra in another round of frenzied melody. Terry and Jurgens danced for a while, but Terry kept turning around to watch the leader of the band, and after the third dance Jurgens said abruptly, “Let’s leave, Terry.”

“Not yet.”

“I want to. There’s a jazz club on La Cienega I want to take you to tonight.”

“I like it fine here,” she said crisply.

Jurgens glared at her. “I feel like I’ve got competition here.”

“Maybe you do.”

“Well, I don’t like that arrangement. I want to leave.”

“If you do, you’ll leave without me,” she snapped.

“That suits me just fine,” he snapped back. He opened his billfold and took out a five-dollar bill.

“Here,” he told her. “Take a taxi home. Goodnight, Terry.”

“Mike—”

But he had already stalked out. Terry looked after him in embarrassment and anger. Then, with sudden rage, she seized the five-dollar bill and tore it into tiny fragments. Then she found an empty table down front, near the band, and settled down to listen to Bob McKay.

Evidently he thought that Jurgens had gone to the rest room. But half an hour went by, an hour, seventy minutes, and still Terry sat alone. During a break in the music McKay leaned down from the bandstand and whispered, “What happened to Romeo?”

“He got fed up and left.”

“What the heck for?”

“He gets jealous easy,” Terry said.

“So he stranded you?”

“He gave me money to take a cab home.”

“Damn nice of him,” McKay said fiercely.

“But I tore the money up. Guess I walk home.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m through here in another hour, and I’ll take you. Is that okay?”

“Don’t inconvenience yourself for me, Mr. McKay.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Matter of fact, it’s a sheer delight. And the name is Bob.”