Elmo
--out of such patchwork they were building a small drama of their
own. Sam was trying to fit in Edith's visit with the rest.
The Benedict was neither more moral nor less than its kind. An
unwritten law kept respectable women away, but the management showed
no inclination to interfere where there was no noise or disorder.
Employees were supposed to see that no feminine visitors remained
after midnight, that was all.
"You might go up and wait for him," Sam suggested. "That is, if
it's important."
"It's very important."
He threw open the gate of the elevator hospitably.
At half past ten that night Louis Akers went back to his rooms. The
telephone girl watched him sharply as he entered.
"There's a lady waiting for you, Mr. Akers."
He swung toward her eagerly.
"A lady? Did she give any name?"
"No. Sam let her in and took her up. He said he thought you
wouldn't mind. She'd been here before."
The thought of Edith never entered Akers' head. It was Lily, Lily
miraculously come back to him. Lily, his wife.
Going up in the elevator he hastily formulated a plan of action.
He would not be too ready to forgive; she had cost him too much.
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