What she saw was this. A rich brown limousine, in which the dome light was brightly burning, had drawn up to the steps. Inside, among the rich brown cushions and hangings, and pausing to light a leisurely cigarette, sat the most wickedly handsome man in the world! He was black-haired, and black-moustached and black-goateed, and had large, lustrous, melting black eyes, while on his oval cheeks was the ruddy bloom of health. Every girl in the window sighed, as, with a movement which was grace in every changing line, he stepped out of the brilliantly lighted limousine, and came slowly up the steps, tall, slender, magnificent, in his shining silk hat and his flowing Inverness, and his white tie, and his pleated shirt front—Oh, everything; correct to the last detail, except for the trifling touches of originality, down to his patent leather tips! With a wave of careless ease he flung back his Inverness over one shoulder, and rang the bell!
“Dick!” cried a voice just behind Gail’s ear. Gail had not known that any one was leaning heavily on her shoulders, but now she and Arly, with one accord, turned and raced for the vestibule!
“You handsome thing!” cried Arly, as he stepped into the hall and held out a hand to each of them. “I’ve a notion to kiss you!”
“All right,” he beamed down on her, sparing another beam for Gail. No, Gail had not exaggerated in memory the magic of his melting eyes. It could not be exaggerated!
“There aren’t any words to tell you how welcome you are!” said Gail, as the butler disappeared with his hat and Inverness.
“What on earth brought you here to bless us?” demanded Arly.
“I came to propose to Gail,” announced Dick calmly, and took her hand again, bending down on her that wonderfully magnetic gaze, so that she was panic-stricken in the idea that he was about to proceed with his project right on the spot.
“Wait until after the dance,” she laughingly requested, drawing back a step and blushing furiously.
“We’re wasting time,” protested Arly. “Hurry on in, Dick. We want to exhibit you.”
“I don’t mind,” consented Dick cheerfully, and stepped through the doorway, where he created the gasp.
Eleven girls dreamed of his melting eyes that night; and Howard Clemmens lost his monopoly. Viewing Gail’s victorious scramble with Arly for Dick’s exclusive possession, Howard’s friends unanimously reduced him to the ranks.