"Brave, yes," agreed Somers, "to dare the glances of such bright eyes.
I must protect my heart!" He clasped his fat hands pretty near where
his heart was situated, and grinned with delight as Ariadne also
"protected" her heart.

"Ah," he cried, "two hearts in danger! I feel sure we shall be
friends, if only because misery loves company."

"Is it really misery with you?" and Ariadne's sympathy was so
evidently profound, that Cassie Weldon and I walked away.

"I'll give Ariad her innings," said the vivacious Miss Weldon, "and
I'll make up to the Somers kid later. Where'd Vicky pick him up?"

"She doesn't know him at all. Norman Steele brought him unbeknownst."

"No! Why, Vick doesn't allow that sort of thing."

"So I'm told. Any way, Steele did it."

"Well, Vicky's such a good-natured darling, maybe she won't mind for
once. She won't, if she likes the little stranger. He's well-meaning,
at any rate."

"So's Ariadne. From her smile, I think she well means to sell him her
latest 'Autumn In The Adirondacks,' or 'Lady With A Handbag'."

"Now, don't be mean!" but Cassie laughed. "And I don't blame her if
she does. Poor Ad paints above the heads of the public, so if this is