“Yes,” was the reply. “Your knock waked me up.”
“Then, if you don’t mind, we’ll search the room. Have you anything valuable here?”
“I certainly have! A wallet with five hundred dollars, and a set of diamond shirt studs.”
Mr. Hayden went straight to the closet and turned on the light. Feminine giggles greeted his action.
“Don’ be mad at us, mishter!” pleaded a girl’s voice. “We jus’ had a leetle too mush likker, and we wanted to get some shirt studs for our costumes. We’re goin’ to a nish party, dreshed up like men!”
Mr. Hayden smiled and pulled out the two “young men” from the closet. As he snatched off their caps, Mary Louise recognized them instantly. Pauline Brooks and Mary Green!
“Pauline!” she cried.
“Emmy Lou!” In her surprise, Pauline forgot to act drunk. But the next moment she remembered.
“Pleash let us go, mishter,” she pleaded, taking hold of Mr. Hayden’s coat collar. “Was only jus’ a prank——”
“Prank nothing!” cried Mary Louise. “And these girls aren’t intoxicated, either, Mr. Hayden.”