“There y’are, lady,” he said, grinning; “there’s yer paper!  Gimme a nickel, can’t yer?  I ain’t got time hangin’ on me hands!”

His big black eyes stared at Eunice, as she made no move toward a purse, and he growled:  “Hurry up lady; I gotta sell some papers yet.  Think nobuddy wants one but you?”

Eunice flushed with annoyance.

“Please pay him, Aunt Abby,” she said, in a low voice; “I —­haven’t any money.”

“Goodness gracious me!  Haven’t five cents!  Why, Eunice, you must have!”

“But I haven’t, I tell you!  I can’t see Alvord, and Gus is too far to call to.  Go over there, boy, to that chauffeur with the leather coat—­he’ll pay you.”

“No, thanky mum!  I’ve had that dodge tried afore!  Pity a grand dame like you can’t scare up a nickel!  Want to work a poor newsie!  Shame for ya, lady!”

“Hush your impudence, you little wretch!” cried Aunt Abby.  “Here, Eunice, help me get my purse.  It’s in my inside coat pocket—­under the rug—­there, see if you can reach it now.”

Aunt Abby tried to extricate herself from the motor rug that had been tucked all too securely about her, and failing in that, endeavored to reach into her pocket with her gloved hand, and became hopelessly entangled in a mass of fur, chiffon scarf and. eyeglass chain.

“I can’t get at my purse, Eunice; there’s no use trying,” she wailed, despairingly.  “Let us have the paper, my boy, and come back here when the owner of this car comes and he’ll give you a quarter.”

“Yes—­he will!” shouted the lad, and he’ll give me a di’mon’ pin an’ a gold watch!  I’d come back, willin’ enough, but me root lays the other way, an’ I must be scootin’ or I’ll miss the hull show.  Sorry!” The boy, who had no trouble in finding customers for his papers, picked up the one he had laid on Eunice’s lap and made off.

“Never mind, Auntie,” she said, “we’ll get another.  It’s too provoking—­but I haven’t a cent, and I don’t blame the boy.  Now, find your purse—­or, never mind; here comes Alvord.”

“Just fell over Mortimer!” called out Hendricks as the two men came to the side of the car.  “I made him come and speak to you ladies, though I believe its holding up the whole performance.  Let me present the god in the machine!”

“Not that,” said Mr. Mortimer, smiling; “only a small mechanical part of to-day’s doings.  I’ve a few minutes to spare, though but a few.  How do you do, Miss Ames?  Glad to see you again.  And Mrs, Embury; this brings back childhood days!”

“Tell me about Hanlon,” begged Miss Ames.  “Is he on the square?”