It was nearly noon before she, dressed with unconscious care, stood in the street doorway looking about uncertainly as if she did not know which way to turn.She finally moved in the direction of the theater where Rod's play was rehearsing.She had gone to none of the rehearsals because Rod had requested it."I want you to see it as a total surprise the first night," explained he."That'll give you more pleasure, and also it will make your criticism more valuable to us." And she had acquiesced, not displeased to have all her time for her own affairs.But now she, dazed, stunned almost, convinced that it was all over for her with Brent, instinctively turned to Rod to get human help--not to ask for it, but in the hope that somehow he would divine and would say or do something that would make the way ahead a little less forbidding--something that would hearten her for the few first steps, anyhow.She turned back several times--now, because she feared Rod wouldn't like her coming; again because her experience--enlightened good sense----told her that Rod would--could--not help her, that her sole reliance was herself.But in the end, driven by one of those spasms of terror lest the underworld should be about to engulf her again, she stood at the stage door.
As she was about to negotiate the surly looking man on guard within, Sperry came rushing down the long dark passageway.He was brushing past her when he saw who it was."Too late!" he cried."Rehearsal's over.""I didn't come to the rehearsal," explained Susan."I thought perhaps Rod would be going to lunch.""So he is.Go straight back.You'll find him on the stage.
I'll join you if you'll wait a minute or so." And Sperry hurried on into the street.
Susan advanced along the passageway cautiously as it was but one remove from pitch dark.Perhaps fifty feet, and she came to a cross passage.As she hesitated, a door at the far end of it opened and she caught a glimpse of a dressing-room and, in the space made by the partly opened door, a woman half-dressed--an attractive glimpse.The woman--who seemed young--was not looking down the passage, but into the room.
She was laughing in the way a woman laughs only when it is for a man, for _the_ man--and was saying, "Now, Rod, you must go, and give me a chance to finish dressing." A man's arm--Rod's arm--reached across the opening in the doorway.A hand--Susan recognized Rod's well-shaped hand--was laid strongly yet tenderly upon the pretty bare arm of the struggling, laughing young woman--and the door closed--and the passage was soot-dark again.All this a matter of less than five seconds.Susan, ashamed at having caught him, frightened lest she should be found where she had no business to be, fled back along the main passage and jerked open the street door.She ran squarely into Sperry.
"I--I beg your pardon," stammered he."I was in such a rush--I ought to have been thinking where I was going.Did Ihurt you?" This last most anxiously."I'm so sorry----""It's nothing--nothing," laughed Susan."You are the one that's hurt."And in fact she had knocked Sperry breathless."You don't look anything like so strong," gasped he.
"Oh, my appearance is deceptive--in a lot of ways."For instance, he could have got from her face just then no hint of the agony of fear torturing her--fear of the drop into the underworld.
"Find Rod?" asked he.
"He wasn't on the stage.So--I came out again.""Wait here," said Sperry."I'll hunt him up.""Oh, no--please don't.I stopped on impulse.I'll not bother him." She smiled mischievously."I might be interrupting."Sperry promptly reddened.She had no difficulty in reading what was in his mind--that her remark had reminded him of Rod's "affair," and he was cursing himself for having been so stupid as to forget it for the moment and put his partner in danger of detection.
"I--I guess he's gone," stammered Sperry."Lord, but that was a knock you gave me! Better come to lunch with me."Susan hesitated, a wistful, forlorn look in her eyes."Do you really want me?" asked she.
"Come right along," said Sperry in a tone that left no doubt of his sincerity."We'll go to the Knickerbocker and have something good to eat.""Oh, no--a quieter place," urged Susan.
Sperry laughed."You mean less expensive.There's one of the great big differences between you and the make-believe ladies one bumps into in this part of town._You_ don't like to be troublesome or expensive.But we'll go to the Knickerbocker.
I feel 'way down today, and I intended to treat myself.You don't look any too gay-hearted yourself.""I'll admit I don't like the way the cards are running," said Susan."But--they'll run better--sooner or later.""Sure!" cried Sperry."You needn't worry about the play.
That's all right.How I envy women!"
"Why?"
"Oh--you have Rod between you and the fight.While I--I've got to look out for myself.""So have I," said Susan."So has everyone, for that matter.""Believe me, Mrs.Spenser," cried Sperry, earnestly, "you can count on Rod.No matter what----""Please!" protested Susan."I count on nobody.I learned long ago not to lean.""Well, leaning isn't exactly a safe position," Sperry admitted."There never was a perfectly reliable crutch.
Tell me your troubles."
Susan smilingly shook her head."That'd be leaning....No, thank you.I've got to think it out for myself.I believed I had arranged for a career for myself.It seems to have gone to pieces That's all.Something else will turn up--after lunch.""Not a doubt in the world," replied he confidently.
"Meanwhile--there's Rod."
Susan's laugh of raillery made him blush guiltily."Yes,"said she, "there's Rod." She laughed again, merrily.
"There's Rod--but where is there?"
