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 the brasses brayed; others pressed to the balustrade and let them pass, holding their own places close together.

Ellen recognized no one. She knew Art Slengel by sight but he was not visible, at the moment; she did not yet know it was his party, but she recognized at once that this must be "a party." The men proclaimed it, too familiar or too frightened (one or two of them) in the clasp of their partners; the girls banished any lingering doubt.

They were very young, every one younger than Ellen. They ogled the men, clung to the men, pouted provokingly. One appeal they made to the men and that they were paid for, as Di had been paid.

Ellen went into the dressing-room and, emerging, she saw Mr. Slengel; he was with Lew, having welcomed him. Slengel looked at her but did not recognize her; she was to him the girl whom Lew had brought. Nobody else had brought a girl, Ellen guessed; and she guessed that, though Slengel did not identify her, he would have liked it better if Lew had come alone.

His particular point was to please Lew to-night and with entertainment of his own providing. This party would have proceeded without Lew, but it had been prepared in hope of him, as another party in Chicago, prepared for Sam Metten, had capped the campaign which had taken the Metten account away from Rountree.

So Art Slengel preferred to supply Lew with partners; but Lew offered his arms to Ellen and she accepted them and danced. She felt, dancing, a change in his way with her; she felt, dancing, that she classed herself to him with