might be embarrassing to encounter Miss Cornish in the hall;
and, after reconnoitering the stairway, went cautiously up to
his room.

Three minutes later he came bounding down again, stricken white,
and not caring if he encountered the devil. On his table he had
found a package--the complete manuscript of "Roderick Hanscom"
and this scrawl:

Canby,

I can't produce your play--everything off.

Y'rs,

Tal't P'r.




XI


Carson Tinker was in the elevator at the Pantheon, and the
operator was closing the door thereof, about to ascend, but
delayed upon a sound of running footsteps and a call of "Up!"
Stewart Canby plunged into the cage; his hat, clutched in his
hand, disclosing emphatically that he had been at his hair
again.