let anyone try to talk you out of doing anything； and you're surer than ever to go ahead and do it。〃
〃Steam…roller Sal；〃 grinned the smaller girl beside her。 〃Here it is now。〃
They got in； settled themselves on the back seat； left open to the sky with the hood thrown back。
〃What'd he say it was called； again？〃
Marjorie gave the order to the coachman for her。 〃The Madrid。〃 He turned and gave them a glance of brief curiosity； then flicked his whip and they started to roll down the street with velvety smoothness。 Marjorie had noted the look in passing。 It might have been elicited by their festive attire or their lack of male escort； but she was inclined to think not； she had an idea it was their destination that had caused it。
〃Was I right？〃 Sally exulted。 〃Isn't this nice for a change？〃
The gait of the vehicle was a lot more even and lulling than a car would have been； there was no denying that； and it gave them a much better chance to take in the sights around them。 These carriages； although no longer used for practical purposes during the daylight hours； were far from being broken…down museum pieces。 They were rubber…tired； their bodies kept in gleaming condition； and they were anything but an unmon sight in Ciudad Real； particularly after dark and on Sunday afternoons。
After ten or fifteen minutes of slow coursing through the vivacious； brightly lighted streets； they came out finally upon a large glorieta； or rounded open space of pavement； ringed about with multiglobed lampposts。 This was the Puerta Mayor； one of the city 〃gates；〃 although it had neither wall nor gate to show for it。 Facing them across it was the main entrance to the Bosque； a vast natural park in imitation of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris； mute testimony of the days when Paris had set the style in cities as well as in women's clothes。
The main driveway of the Bosque； when they entered it； was filled with taxis； roadsters； and sedans。 In fact the stream of traffic was fully as heavy as on some of the city thoroughfares behind them。
〃Now what's wrong with this？〃 Sally queried delightedly。 〃Do you see anything so lonely or scary about this？ I'd like to give that clerk a piece of my mind！〃
〃It's lonely like Times Square on Election Night；〃 admitted Marjorie with a chuckle。
〃What a night！〃 Sally exulted。 She lowered the bracketed seat opposite； put both feet up on it； and stared overhead and rearward at a pomegranate of a moon which was beginning to work its way through the trees into open sky。
Presently innumerable colored lanterns； like toy balloons staked low above the ground at the end of taut； upright strings； began to peer out at them here and there。 The carriage made a turn into a private siding； the trees thinned off； and a whole vast expanse of them； like a flower bed dangling upside down； burgeoned into view。 Beneath was a sea of tables in the open air； centering around a pavilion； open at the sides； containing still others。 And all alike； inside and out； were filled with a vivaciously chattering； typically Latin outdoor crowd。 The nostalgic wail of a tango sounded disembodiedly on the night air； without seeming to have any source； and you could tell that those upright under the pavilion roof in a small pact cluster were dancing； and not just standing there between the tables； only because each two were turned to face one another。
〃Now this；〃 said Sally； when they had finally obtained a table far out toward the perimeter； 〃is what I really call something。 You can have your stuffy city night clubs。 Look at that。〃 She picked up a leaf that had fallen to the cloth from above； and held it out almost reverently for Marjorie to see。
〃Sally； the hard…to…please； the chronic plainer；〃 observed Marjorie； with reverse implication。
Sally was usually good pany at all times； pleasant to be out with； that was why they had made the trip together in the first place。 Tonight she was in especially fine fettle。
〃Are we getting looked at！〃 she reveled presently； not in the least disconcerted。 〃Very dйclassйe； I suppose； ing out alone together like this。〃
〃You know it isn't that；〃 Marjorie teased her。 〃It's probably that carrot thatch of yours； and the funny little phiz that goes with it。〃 She undulated her wrist watch toward her。 〃You're beautiful； my dear。〃
Sally squinted at one of the lanterns。 〃I must owe you money；〃 she said。 〃Trying to recall if I do or not。 It's the only way I can account for it。 All right； you're beautiful too； so there。 I'm beautiful； you're beautiful； what good does it do us？ Two lonely old maids； twenty…four and twentyfive； all by themselves in the middle of the South American night。〃
〃You shouldn't have said that；〃 Marjorie said in a guarded voice； laughing silently down her chin。 〃Don't look up； but we're about to be accosted。〃
He was plete even down to white kid gloves。 He bowed low between them。 〃Would one of the sefloritas care to do me the honor of dancing？〃
The corner of Sally's mouth was twitching in spite of her best efforts to control it。 Close as he was； she managed to make herself audible to her friend without appearing to say anything。 〃Dare me？〃 she breathed。 〃Ow！ what was that for？〃 she exclaimed； unabashed； a moment later as the point of her friend's toe found her instep。
Marjorie saw that she would have to answer for the two of them。 〃No thank you；〃 she said with what gravity she could muster。
〃Pardon；〃 the canvasser said stiffly。 He gave another bow and left them。
〃You hurt the poor man's feelings；〃 Marjorie rebuked； holding her napkin to the side of her own mouth to keep the contagious laughter she was getting from the other girl from being seen。
The two of them had fallen into one of those moods of giddy； causeless hilarity that at times sweep over two women alone； they were laughing at nothing； with one another； at one another； and incited by one another。
〃I thought you were feeling so romantic tonight？〃
〃Yeah；〃 said Sally； shaking her head； 〃but I don't like 'em with shoeshines on the hair。〃
This brought on another gale of risibility。
〃Have they a union？ They'll be picketing this table； the first thing we know。〃
〃Say； wouldn't that look funny？〃 visualized Marjorie。 〃Three or four of them carrying signs and doing little dance steps back and forth in front of us…〃 The mental image she managed to convey sent them into still another spasm。
〃e on； we're going to have wine with these jokes！〃 Sally said masterfully； beckoning the waiter。
〃Old P。 J。 should see his hard…working secretary now！〃 Marjorie gloated a few minutes later； tilting a ruddy glass toward her friend。
Sally turned and looked the other way； away from the crowd out into the marginal darkness； for almost the first time since they'd seated themselves。 She decided to kid her panion a little。 〃It may be hiding out there right now； watching us through the trees；〃 she said mischievously。 〃Do you suppose they pick out whom their next meal is going to be ahead of time and then follow them around？ I heard a story once…〃
〃Brrh！ Don't！〃 pleaded Marjorie。 〃I was just beginning to forget it。 You had to remind me。〃
〃Nobody else here seems to take it seriously； why should we？ Look at the mob here tonight。 That alone shows it's just some sort of an idle rumor。〃
Under those gay…colored lanterns strung from the trees； with music playing； glasses clinking； waiters hustling around； shoals of men and women in evening dress on every side of them； Marjorie had to admit to herself it was hard really to believe that there was violent death stalking somewhere about the city at that very moment； on four velvety； relentless paws。
By the time they were ready to leave； an hour later； they had both forgotten all about it once again。 They returned in high good humor to where their carriage was waiting for them； still laughing intermittently and for as little reason as ever。
〃I liked that place。 Aren't you glad we took it in？〃
〃Wouldn't have missed it for the world；〃 Marjorie agreed。
〃Drive us around awhile； slowly；〃 Sally told the coachman as they got in。 〃It's a shame to go back to the hotel so soon。 Isn't