to avoid what he thought would be an awkward meeting. The second time she passed she walked more slowly, all resilience gone from her step. How pale she was, how deep the circles under her eyes. Dissipation no doubt. . . . Billy had heard that the movie crowd were a fast lot. Must be, the way Minnie looked. He had never seen her walk with lagging steps before. He rose from his hiding place and dodged behind a huge quarter of beef. What in the devil was Minnie stalling around the butcher shop for? To make him miserable, he asked himself? What a chance! What a fat chance. It was she who had wiped off the slate. Now he was going to stay where he was put. No girl could make a fool twice out of Billy MacNally.
He stepped from out his hiding place as indifferently as if she weren't strolling past the window, stopping to look in to see if her skirt weren't slightly hiked in the back. It was almost closing time. He would put on his new brown derby, walk out past her, tip his hat, smile, keep on whistling and walking until he came to the doorway of the French Bakery where Madge Connors would be waiting for him.
Minnie was also fighting with her pride. If she hadn't made that unprofitable and expensive trip to Fort Lee she would have had enough money to walk right into the shop, ask for fifteen cents' worth of Hamburger and give Billy the chance to make the first overtures. But she knew she would stand there ashamed before him if he suspected her motive.
Billy was glad he had worn his best suit and a white collar. He hoped Madge was sporting the new sealskin coat she had bought at the store for a hundred and twenty-five bucks. Guess that would set Minnie back somewhat, as he and Madge walked away from her, arm-in-arm to the Hungarian restaurant where they were to dine. . . . The only
