“I didn’t know it. I swear I didn’t!”
“But you called at the house the night before—and the hired girl told you.”
“I didn’t believe her,” John admitted sheepishly. “I was sure I saw her go out with—Richards.”
The corners of Queenie’s mouth drooped in a smirk, as she suddenly understood the cause of John’s absence. He must have mistaken her for Marjorie, the night that she wore her gray dress and cloak! In a word she explained the situation.
“But you’re a big boob, just the same, Mr. Hadley, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself for havin’ so little faith. Now run along, and make up for lost time. We got a date ourselves.”
They hurried off to their mysterious engagement, which resulted entirely to their satisfaction, and proceeded leisurely to a hotel for luncheon. They lingered over it as long as they could, Richards expressing his regret that he could not devote the rest of the afternoon to Queenie’s amusement.
“You’ve done enough for me today, Mr. Richards,” she replied appreciatively. “It’s been the happiest day of my life.”
“You deserve it,” he returned, “you spent a good part of it in making three other people happy.”
“Three?” she repeated in perplexity.
“John Hadley, Marjorie Wilkinson—and——” he helped her into the train—“and me!”