While Mr. Dalken stood beside Mrs. Courtney’s car trying to convince her she was in the wrong, the two chauffeurs began to use their fists upon each other. Then, in a few minutes’ time, the officer stationed at the corner to maintain order for the paraders, rushed up and arrested both combatants. Naturally, this caused their employers to see that justice was done, and thus it happened that all contestants accompanied the officer to the police-station.
Meantime Polly and Eleanor waited and waited, but no one came to inspect their sample book. They telephoned Mrs. Courtney’s house and were told she had left, in her car, fully an hour before. Then they telephoned Mr. Dalken’s office and heard that he had driven away in his car fully an hour before.
“The old parade must have held them up,” suggested Polly.
“But that’s over, now, and they surely could have been here if they were detained at one of the nearby cross-streets,” said Eleanor.
Another half hour passed and then two cars drove up and stopped before the Ashby Shops. Two people stepped from their individual cars and two angry people stood and stared at each other. Then Mr. Dalken, recovering first, bowed stiffly and walked across the pavement to enter the Shop door. Mrs. Courtney had started to cross the sidewalk before she realized that her unknown opponent was entering the same Shop she was bound for. She passed through the door he held open, and sent him a careless glance of thanks, then looked around for the girls whom she had expected to meet there.
Neither girl was in sight, and the lady now asked one of the salesmen, “Where shall I find Miss Brewster or Miss Maynard?”
“Just step this way, Madam. I’ll take you to their private office,” was the polite reply.
Mrs. Courtney glanced in a large mirror to assure herself that her hat was presentable, then followed her escort. As she reached the partly closed door of the office used by the young decorators, she heard a man’s voice. The same voice which had been accusing her chauffeur of bad judgment and ignorance of city laws. Before she could change her mind about entering the room, however, the escort had knocked and Polly flung the door open. She welcomed the new visitor.
Both girls were tickled to pieces to find how their plot was coming on apace: both dear friends were now together at the same time, and all that was needed was for them to be introduced.
“Oh, isn’t this just lovely!” cried Eleanor, acting her part very well. “To find both our friends here at the same time!”