The Weber Literary Journal urday afternoon but there was a chance that some one would be there. There simply must be. As he hurried along the corridor there was no sound but his echoing footsteps. He found the door locked, but soon opened it with his key. All was quiet, there was no one there. Such papers as had been left on the desks were stacked neatly in piles. He closed the door with a sinking heart and returned slowly to the street. As he started up the street he espied one of his friends. His hopes rose; he might secure a loan from him. "Say, old top," said Gardner, "you don't happen to have five dollars that have no engagements between now and Monday?" "I have five dollars," said his friend, "but I am on my way now to buy a book with it." "You don't really need that book this afternoon and I need the five very badly. I need it right now," began Gardner. "Sorry, but" said his friend. "A book," continued Gardner, "is only a temporary pleasure at best; read it once and it is forgotten. Wait until Monday to buy it so that when you return from the office seeking rest and relaxation you will find it in reading the book." After much persuasion Gardner was able to pry his friend loose from the five and hurried on his way rejoicing. A moment later as he entered the restaurant, triumph was sparkling in his eye and ten dollars reposed within his pocket. As Gardner made his Way toward the table he suddenly stopped. At the table with Cynthia was another girl, a large healthy girl, suggestive of an unbounded appetite. As he stood there transfixed Cynthia caught sight of him. "I thought you had been run over or something," said Cynthia, "and was just telling my fears to Lucy when you entered." "I must apologize for intruding," said the newcomer, "but I saw Cynthia sitting here all alone so I joined her." "She saved my life," said Cynthia, "Aren't you grateful?" "Grateful is hardly the word," said Gardner, "I am overcome." He was. This second event was too much for him. It left 24 The Weber Literary Journal him numb. The calm of desperation settled over him as Lucy with an efficiency that surprised him romped along the menu, ordering first one thing and then another. Oh, what a champion to enter in a pie eating contest! But along with his admiration of her performance came the thought that she was consuming time as well as food. A few minutes later he managed to extract a card from one pocket and a pencil from the other without attracting much attention. He motioned for a waiter and managed to slip him the card with a brief but urgent message scribbled on it. After a few minutes a small boy entered and as he made his way in and out among the tables from time to time he would shout, "Mr. Brent, Mr. Brent" All of this Gardner did not apear to notice until Cynthia caught the name. "I believe that's for you," she said. "Don't know what it could be," said Gardner, but he called the boy to him and asked who it was he wanted. It seemed that a Mr. Gardner Brent was wanted on the long distance telephone and that he was wanted immediately. Gardner arose, impatience showing on every feature, and made his way slowly out. When he reached the outside he leaned against the door for a moment to think out his next move. He racked his brains for several minutes for some solution of his difficulty, but could think of no other way out but an interview with the manager, and it was hard telling what such an interview would lead to. The manager might even have him arrested and he could already picture his arrest; the night in jail and being brought up before the police court in the morning. Then of course it would be sure to get in the papers and he felt certain that if this happened Cynthia would never speak to him again. His little party was not turning out as he had thought it would, nor as he had planned it should. All these bitter reflections had taken but a moment and he was now ready to face the manager, so he walked boldly into his presence. The manager, a stern looking man of elderly appearance, with gray hair and beard, was bent over a desk sorting some papers as Gardner entered. 25