She was savagely pushing him back to the landing of
the stairs. With a sudden lurch, Jim freed himself and
gripped her hands.

"Cut it! Cut it! Or I'll knock your block off!
I've come to take my girl to ride----"

He drew a match and quickly lighted the gas as
Mary's footstep echoed on the stairs below.

"Well, she's coming now--we'll see," was the sullen
answer.

Ella surveyed him from head to foot, her one eye
gleaming in angry suspicion.

Mary sprang up the last step and saw the two
confronting each other. She had heard the angry voices
from below.

"Why, Ella, what's the matter?" she gasped.

"He was trying to break into your room----"

Jim threw up his hands in a gesture of rage, and
Mary broke into a laugh.

"Why, nonsense, Ella, I asked him to come! This is
Mr. Anthony,"--her voice dropped,--"my fiance."