Anybody could look pretty in expensive clothes like Constance Joy's.
There was a moment's hesitation.
"Is Mr.Gamble in ?" The girl smiled quite brightly.
"Mr.Gamble has just gone out," she stated, and smiled again.

She was not at all pretty when she smiled--not by any means--neat, though.
"Could you tell me where I would be likely to find Mr.Loring ?" asked Constance stiffly.
"Haven't the slightest idea," answered the girl happily, and gave her hair a touch.

Ah! there was a rip under her sleeve! "Do you know where Mr.Gamble has gone ?" and Constance was suddenly pleasant through and through.
"Mr.Gamble ?" repeated the girl, wondering at the sudden sweetness and suspicious of it.

"Oh, Mr.Gamble has gone over to the office of Mallard back in a few minutes.

He's in and out a great deal, but he seldom stays out of the office long at a time." "Thank you," said Constance hastily, reflecting that there was a public telephone booth in the drug store on the corner, so she need not inquire the address of Mallard & Tyne.
Mr.Gamble, Mr.Courtney, and Mr.Washer were in Mr.Mallard's private office, with that acutely earnest real estate gentleman, when a boy came in to advise Mr.Gamble that he was wanted on the telephone.
Johnny Gamble had never heard the voice of Constance over a thin wire, but he recognized it in an instant; and he hitched his chair six inches closer to the instrument.