The spectator., 1921-08-02
Q Sne asKeu, ElIpins

 out the words. "Vivienne vivierre"- her lips curled in distaste vt the name -"ah yes poor despairing thing But Pamela Thornton. Oh, who are you? Why did you?" She dropped her face in her hands and sobbed as though her heart had broken.
 Randolph did not leap to comfort her. With his eyes on the edges of fire that peeped from between and round her ankles, he began to talk.
 'I knew you: I knew Sport; knew Maggie Just once I met you all and I've never forgotten. I couldn't" He smiled crookedly. You and l sat down so hard together and you cried out My, what a bump and laughed and laughed-just like tonight. back there at the stage-door of the Crocodile"
 Pamela stopped crying.
 "So you were that awfully nice boy" she said disclosing tear-stained cheeks and looking him over as though she were inventarying long list of points of deterioration.
 iNpitl ti'l NtN iN'iht''fA'' tiN l''t tall. freckled-nosed. open faced, blue eyed and broad -shouldered, looked up at her almost appeal.ngly as if his whole sum and substance were crying out to be appraised ar face value but no less.
 That's me" he said vapidy. "My name is Robert Hervey Randolph, Some people call me Bob some 'Hery.' and the Sidey ones say 'Randy.''
 And I shall call you MT. Ran dolph.'" said Miss Thornton bravely. and then broke into: "After-after I've th-thanked you again and--and again from my heart. I'm going now"
 "That's wrong guess" said Robert, smiling happily--he didn't know exact ly why. I'm the one that's going. aft CT you promise me that you'll stay here until ten o'clock tomorrow. But before we come to that. please don't thank me ever. It's selfish, but I'd simply love to have you remember me as Bob or ierv or, at the very worst, Randy. Won't yeu?'
 She looked this way and that before she let her face ripple to it's wondrous smile.
 "TIl go as far as Randy" she con ceded mischievouSly; then the smile went and the shadow came But I really cant stay here. you know
 MT. Randolph leaped to his feet. reached her in single stride and la, h,. ic,c at mel" he said. "If you won't promise to stay here without n break till ten o'clock tomorrow and thereafter at your pleasure, I'll stay myself and hold you Now. do you or don't youf One-two-"
 'I do."
 Do what?" inquired Robert.
 II promise"
 Make yourself absolutely at home then" he said. as he dropped her hands and turned toward the door.
 I feel like Christmas eve" said Miss Thornton meekly. Wont you please tell me what's going to hap pen?'
 'You've guessed it-Christmas," he answered enigmatically. tossed the latch-kev on the table and left her.
 She can be excused for spying upon him from the curtained window. She saw him awake the cabman. and then watched the pantomime of long col loquy.
 "Oh!" she moaned "No wonder, The awful awful price of those horrid clock things Why did let him tell 1t to waltz"
 Presently she was amazed to see both the driver and Mir Randolph dis appear into the dark receSSeS of the cab and close after them it's door. For twenty breathless minutes she watched. tormented by the thought that they had retired to have t out where they wouldn't be disturbed by the police But ar last they lssued- both of them. MT Randolph proceed ed to crank the car and then, walking rather strangely, went off. headed west; the driver mounted his box, threw in the clutch, and scurried to the east as though he were off to meet the morning strange doingSi thought Miss lno- gene Pamela Thornton. as she turned from the window to start on a private ly conducted voyage of discovery.
 Strange doIngs, indeed. and stranger still could lmogene Pamela have heard as well as seen. This is what really happened: Mir. Randolph awoke the cqbman gently but thoroughly: then he said
 Look here: I want to buy your wagon"
 "Gowan. boss; wot dyer take me for? Here I been freczin' most to det' fer two mortal hours an gent like you starts right In kickin' on the clock widout even readin it
 "Shucks :" said Mir. Randolph. "What's biting you? Never mind the meter reading; here's twenty for you