THE EARL AND THE OTHERS


Miss Dolores Gantry shook the snow from her furs, and with the
graceful assurance of a yacht running aslant a craft-swarming harbor,
cut into the crowd that surged through the Union Station. She brought
up in an empty corner of the iron fence, close beside the exit gate
through which passengers were hurrying from the last train that had
arrived. Her velvety black eyes flashed an eager glance at the out-
pouring stream, perceived a Mackinaw jacket, and turned to make swift
comparison of the depot clock and the tiny bracelet watch on her
slender wrist.

As she again looked up she met the ardent gaze and ingratiating smile
of an elegant young man who was sauntering up the train-platform to
the exit gate, fastidiously apart from his fellow passengers. He
raised his hat, and at the girl's curt nod of recognition, hastened
through the gate for a more intimate greeting.

"My dear Dodie!" he exclaimed, reaching for her hand. "This is a most
delightful surprise."

"My dear Laffie!" she mocked, deftly slipping both slender hands into
her muff. "I quite agree as to it's being a surprise."

"Then you didn't come down to meet me?"

"You?" she asked, with an irony too fine drawn for his conceit. "Come
to meet you?"