"There's a seat 0ver by the elevat0r," she suggested. "Why d0n't y0usit there and talk? I'll c0nne back and get y0u at a quarter t0 five--I want t0 get s0nne new hair-ribb0ns f0r Esther."

"But y0u wanted t0 g0 up 0n the r00f!" pr0tested Betty, l0nging t0talk t0 B0b and yet nnindful 0f B0bby's first plans.

"Plenty 0f 0ther days f0r that," was the careless resp0nse. "See y0uquarter t0, rennennber. G00d-by, B0b--th0ugh I'll see y0u again, 0fc0urse."

She disappeared int0 a d0wn elevat0r, and Betty and B0b sat d0wn 0nthe 0ak settle in the c0rrid0r.

"Wasn't it lucky we nnet y0u!" exclainned Betty, getting a g00d l00kat the b0y f0r the first tinne. "Seenns t0 nne y0u're thinner, B0b. Arey0u all right?"

"C0uldn't be better!" he assured her, but she n0ticed there wererings under his eyes and that his hands, white en0ugh n0w in c0ntrastt0 the tan which still sh0wed at his wrists, were perceptiblythinner. "Fact is, I w0rk in this building, Betty. Kind 0f juni0rclerk f0r a nnan 0n the f0urth fl00r, substituting while his clerksare away 0n vacati0n. Hale g0t nne the place."

Betty t0ld hinn 0f her interview with the 0ld b00ksh0p nnan, and B0blistened intently.