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shoulder and chewed at his cigar； to which his teeth had clung grimly
through… out the melee。
Ten minutes and the auto turned into the open carriage entrance of a
noble mansion of brown stone； and stood still。 The chauffeur leaped out；
and said： 〃Come quick。 The lady； she will explain。 It is the great honor you
will have； monsieur。 Ah； that milady could call upon Armand to do this
thing！ But； no； I am only one chauffeur。〃
With vehement gestures the chauffeur conducted Hopkins into the
house。 He was ushered into a small but luxurious reception chamber。 A
lady； young； and possessing the beauty of visions； rose from a chair。 In her
eyes smouldered a becoming anger。 Her high… arched； threadlike brows
were ruffled into a delicious frown。
〃Milady；〃 said the chauffeur； bowing low； 〃I have the honor to relate to
you that I went to the house of Monsieur Long and found him to be not at
home。 As I came back I see this gentleman in combat against bow you say
… greatest odds。 He is fighting with five … ten … thirty men … gendarmes；
aussi。 Yes； milady； he what you call 'swat' one … three … eight policemans。 If
that Monsieur Long is out I say to myself this Gentleman be will serve
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The Voice of the City
milady so well； and I bring him here。〃
〃Very well； Armand；〃 said the lady； 〃you may go。〃 She turned to
Hopkins。
〃I sent my chauffeur；〃 she said； 〃to bring my cousin； Walter Long。
There is a man in this house who has treated me with insult and abuse。 I
have complained to my aunt； and she laughs at me。 Ar… mand says you are
brave。 In these prosaic days men who are both brave and chivalrous are
few。 May I count upon your assistance？〃
John Hopkins thrust the remains of his cigar into his coat pocket。 He
looked upon this winning creature and felt his first thrill of romance。 It
was a knightly love； and contained no disloyalty to the flat with the flea…
bitten terrier and the lady of his choice。 He bad married her after a picnic
of the Lady Label Stickers' Union； Lodge No。 2； on a dare and a bet of
new hats and chowder all around with his friend； Billy McManus。 This
angel who was begging him to come to her rescue was something too
heavenly for chowder； and as for hats … golden； jewelled crowns for her！
〃Say；〃 said John Hopkins； 〃just show me the guy that you've got the
grouch at。 I've neglected my talents as a scrapper heretofore； but this is my
busy night。〃
〃He is in there；〃 said the lady； pointing to a closed door。 〃Come。 Are
you sure that you do not falter or fear？〃
〃Me？〃 said John Hopkins。 〃Just give me one of those roses in the
bunch you are wearing； will you？〃
The lady gave him a red； red rose。 John Hopkins kissed it； stuffed it
into his vest pocket； opened the door and walked into the room。 It was a
handsome library； softly but brightly lighted。 A young man was there；
reading。
〃Books on etiquette is what you want to study；〃 said John Hopkins；
abruptly。 〃Get up here； and I'll give you some lessors。 Be rude to a lady；
will you？〃
The young man looked mildly surprised。 Then he arose languidly；
dextrously caught the arms of John Hopkins and conducted him
irresistibly to the front door of the house。
〃Beware； Ralph Branscombe；〃 cried the lady； who had followed； 〃what
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you do to the gallant man who has tried to protect me。〃
The young man shoved John Hopkins gently out the door and then
closed it。
〃Bess；〃 he said calmly； 〃I wish you would quit reading historical
novels。 How in the world did that fellow get in here？〃
〃Armand brought him；〃 said the young lady。 〃I think you are awfully
mean not to let me have that St。 Bernard。 I sent Armand for Walter。 I was
so angry with you。〃
〃Be sensible； Bess；〃 said the young man； taking her arm。 〃That dog
isn't safe。 He has bitten two or three people around the kennels。 Come now；
let's go tell auntie we are in good humor again。〃
Arm in arm； they moved away。
John Hopkins walked to his flat。 The janitor's five…year…old daughter
was playing on the steps' Hopkins gave her a nice； red rose and walked up…
stairs。
Mrs。 Hopkins was philandering with curl…papers。
〃Get your cigar？〃 she asked； disinterestedly。
〃Sure；〃 said Hopkins； 〃and I knocked around a while outside。 It's a
nice night。〃
He sat upon the hornblende sofa； took out the stump of his cigar；
lighted it； and gazed at the grace… ful figures in 〃The Storm〃 on the
opposite wall。
〃I was telling you；〃 said he； 〃about Mr。 Whipple's suit。 It's a gray； with
an invisible check； and it looks fine。〃
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A LICKPENNY LOVER
There； were 3；000 girls in the Biggest Store。 Masie was one of them。
She was eighteen and a selleslady in the gents' gloves。 Here she became
versed in two varieties of human beings … the kind of gents who buy their
gloves in department stores and the kind of women who buy gloves for
unfortunate gents。 Besides this wide knowledge of the human species；
Masie had acquired other information。 She had listened to the promulgated
wisdom of the 2；999 other girls and had stored it in a brain that was as
secretive and wary as that of a Maltese cat。 Per… haps nature； foreseeing
that she would lack wise counsellors； had mingled the saving ingredient of
shrewdness along with her beauty； as she has endowed the silver fox of the
priceless fur above the other animals with cunning。
For Masie was beautiful。 She was a deep…tinted blonde； with the calm
poise of a lady who cooks butter cakes in a window。 She stood behind her
counter in the Biggest Store； and as you closed your band over the tape…
line for your glove measure you thought of Hebe； and as you looked again
you wondered how she had come by Minerva's eyes。
When the floorwalker was not looking Masie chewed tutti frutti； when
he was looking she gazed up as if at the clouds and smiled wistfully。
That is the shopgirl smile； and I