Sid's skates slipped from his shoulder into the snow. He picked them up and looked at John uncertainly.
"That'll cost a lot of money, won't it?" he asked.
"Most two dollars," magnificently.
"Let's take her together, then. I'll pay half the carfare and the seats."
John thought a moment. The plan possessed certain advantages. He would be able to observe how Louise acted with Sid, for one; and if he didn't consent, that persistent rival would take her later, anyway, which would be a thousand times worse. Besides, the prospect of two hard-earned dollars being frittered away for an evening's entertainment had been far from pleasing.
"The tickets are for a week from Saturday," he said slowly. "Want me to get you one?"
Sid nodded and dug into his pocket for a handful of Christmas change. He passed over a dollar and twelve cents to John, and left for the lagoon.
Half a dozen times as the street car bounced westward over the uneven track, John decided to tell Sid that, after all, the entertainment was for but two. He would probably spoil all the fun, anyway, and then the evening would be a total failure. He was still undecided when he stepped up to the tawdry box office with its photographs of local theatrical stars.
"How many?" asked the man at the little window.
John drew out a coin from his pocket. Heads, Sid joined them; tails, he should be Louise's sole escort. Heads it was. The fates had willed it; let the outcome be for good or ill.