"Nick-el!"
"Drop a nickel in the slot, Miss," said the clerk helpfully.
She had come away without her purse. She hadn't a penny!
As quick as thought she pulled off one of her rings, and laid it on the counter.
"I have forgotten my purse," she said. "Please let me have a quarter, and I'll redeem the ring to-morrow."
She had been resourceful enough to recollect she needed more than a nickel--there was the trolley fare to the theater and back.
The clerk took the ring with no great willingness; examined it with every apparent intention of denying her request; then examined her with the same sharp look. The horrid creature recognized her, and his manner changed to a cringing deference. "Oh, Miss Ladd, I beg your pardon, I didn't know it was you, Miss Ladd. A quarter? Why certainly, Miss Ladd. Only too happy to oblige you, Miss Ladd. Take back your ring, and pay any time at your convenience, Miss Ladd." He rang open his cash register, and passed her three nickels and a dime, together with the ring. "Put it back where it belongs," he said, smirking and rubbing his hands. "My, what would the boss say to me if I told him I had kept Miss Phyllis Ladd's ring!"
She thanked him, and again gave the number at the telephone, dropping in the nickel that had cost her so much. The clerk, though he had moved away, was all eyes and ears, and she had an unpleasant sensation of being watched. But it was too late to draw back now. Her need was too urgent, too desperate for such irritating trifles to deter her from her purpose. The horrid creature would stare. Well, let him stare! He would chatter about it, too, of course. Well, let him chatter!
"Thalia Theater--box-office."
"I want to speak to Mr. Adair at once."