I can get the names all
right, but unless the fellow's in the telephone-book, I'm done.
Well, I was trying to think of some of my pals who might still be
around the place, and I remembered Gates. Remembered his address,
too, by a miracle. You're a pal of his, of course?'
'Yes, I knew him in London.'
'Oh, I see. And when you came over here he lent you his flat? By
the way, I didn't get your name?'
'My name's Chalmers.'
'Well, as I say, I remembered Gates and came down here to look him
up. We used to have a lot of good times together a year ago. And
now he's gone too!'
'Did you want to see him about anything important?'
'Well, it's important to me. I wanted him to come out to supper.
You see, it's this way: I'm giving supper to-night to a girl who's
in that show at the Forty-ninth Street Theatre, a Miss Leonard,
and she insists on bringing a pal. She says the pal is a good
sport, which sounds all right--' Bill admitted that it sounded all
right. 'But it makes the party three. And of all the infernal
things a party of three is the ghastliest.'
Having delivered himself of this undeniable truth the stranger
slid a little farther into his chair and paused. 'Look here, what
are you doing to-night?' he said.
'I was thinking of going to bed.'
'Going to bed!' The stranger's voice was shocked, as if he had
heard blasphemy.
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