Page:Daskam Bacon--Whom the gods destroy.djvu/153

 him? As she came under the light, one saw better; her flashing smile, her careless carriage of the head, her broad sweep of shoulder, had a certain charm—great heavens, it was Bob steadying himself on her arm! A moment, and the familiar drawl reached his ear:

"An' so you always want to choose mos' prominent place, every time, an' you're safe's a church. No chance to meet y'r dear frien's" Dillon strode to his side, raising his hat to the surprised woman.

"I beg your pardon. Bob, but had you forgotten your engagement this evening?" he said smoothly. Bob stopped, glared a moment uncertainly, but the scrupulous courtesy of Dillon's bearing had its intended effect.

"What—what engagement?" he inquired suspiciously. "Friend o' mine," he added to his companion.

"Haven't you met Stebbins? He—he was expecting you." Lawrence felt his heart sink. Where was Stebbins? Oh, fool, to have lost hold at the eleventh hour!