Part 21 (1/2)

The landlady began to whine. ”Ain't that just my rotten luck! Another room empty!--you know you oughta give me a week's notice.”

”Oh, I'll pay you for it,” answered Clare, bitterly.

”Well, I don't want to gouge you, dearie. And I don't know what I'll do when you're gone. I've just learned to love you.--And with summer comin' on, goodness knows how I'm goin' to rent that back-parlor. It's hard to run a respectable house and keep it full. Now as I say, if I was careless, I----”

But what Miss St. Clair might have been moved to do under such conditions was not forthcoming, for now steps were heard, climbing to the front door. Next, a man's voice spoke. Then the bell rang.

”Wait! Wait!” As she warned Tottie, Clare crossed to the bay-window at a run.

”Maybe here's a new roomer,” suggested the hopeful landlady.

But Clare had pressed aside the heavy curtain framing the window until she could command the stoop. Two men were waiting there. ”Oh!” she breathed, almost reeling back upon Tottie. ”Oh, don't let 'em in!

Don't! I can't see anybody! Say I'm gone! Oh, please, Tottie! I'm gone for good.” She was beside Barbara again, and was almost lifting the child from the floor by an arm. Then she reached for the bird-cage.

”Friends of yours?” questioned Tottie. She also peeked out.

”No! No!”--and to Barbara, ”Come! Don't you speak! Don't open your mouth! Not a word!” Taking the child with her, she fled into her own room, closing the door.

The bell rang again, but Tottie took her time. Going to the fireplace, she turned ”The Lorelei” to the wall; then slipping the shawl from her shoulders, she draped it carelessly over the plaster statuette of the diving-girl. After which she stepped back, appraised the effect, and went to open the front door to a large, ill-tempered man in a loose sack suit, and a young man, tall and white to ghastliness, whose nostrils quivered and whose mouth was scarcely more than a blue line.

”Good-morning,” began Balcome, entering without being asked.

”Won't you step in?” begged Tottie, pointedly.

The door to the back-parlor had opened to a crack. And a face distorted with fear looked through the narrow opening. Clare heard the invitation, and the entering men. She shut the door softly.

Tottie followed her visitors. This was a transformed Tottie--all airs and graces, with just the touch of the dramatic that might be expected from a great ”star.” Indeed, she paused a moment, framed by the doorway, and waited before delivering her accustomed preamble. She smiled at the elder man, who returned a scowl. She bestowed a brighter smile on Wallace, who failed to see it, but licked at his lips, and smoothed his throat, like a man suddenly gone dry. Then she entered, slowly, gracefully, allowing the teagown to trail.

”As I say,” she began, turning her head from side to side with what was intended to be a pretty movement, ”--as I say, it's a real joy to room your theatrical friends. Because they fetch y' such swell callers.”

Balcome, with no interest in this information, aimed toward Wallace a gesture that was meant to start the matter in hand.

Wallace rallied his wits. ”Is Miss--er--Crosby at home?” he asked.

”Miss Crosby,” repeated Tottie, with her very best honey-huskiness; ”oh, she don't rent here no more.”

He reddened in an excess of relief.

”She don't?” mocked Balcome, glaring at the teagown.

”Nope,” went on the landlady, mistaking his attention for a compliment, and simpering a little, with a quick fluttering of her lids; ”took all her stuff.--Hm!” Now she let her eyes play side-wise, toward that double door behind Balcome.

He took the hint. ”I see.”

”And, oh, I'm goin' to miss her! Her first name bein' Clare, and my last name bein' St. Clair, I always feel, somehow, that she's a sorta relation.”

Balcome went nearer to the double door. ”And you don't know where she's living now?” He raised his voice a little. Then with Wallace gaping in amazement, he put a hand into a pocket and brought out several bills. He gave these a flirtatious wave before Tottie's eyes.

”You don't know?”

”Say, y' don't expect me to tell y', do y'?” she inquired, also raising her voice. Those eyes sparkled with greed.