The Lighted Match - Page 10/142

He bent forward. "Cara!" he whispered. No answer. "Cara!" he repeated.

"Yeth, thir," she lisped in a whimsical little-girl voice, looking up

with a smile stolen from a fairy-tale.

"I am just lending you that rose. I had meant to give it to you, but

now I want it back--when you are through with it. May I have it?"

She held it out teasingly. "Do you want it now--Indian-giver?" she

demanded.

"You know I don't," in an injured tone.

"I'm glad, because you couldn't have it--yet." And she was gone, leaving

him to make his appearance from the direction of his own apartments.