"To work. The Senator is going to start a middlewest chain of newspapers and he thought it would be a good idea for Herold and me to study New York newspaper methods."
"You mean you thought it would be a good idea, and the Senator fell for it," Clem jibed good-naturedly.
"It was really Herold's idea," Semy said magnanimously.
"Let's get going, " Herold said impatiently, "we got a lotta drinking to do."
"What hotel are you going to?"
"A friend of the Senator's—in advertising—got Clem a studio on Central Park South. We're all staying there," Semy explained.
"That's a wonderful location."
The elevator man had the keys and in high spirits they admired the duplex studio apartment and its park view.
"It's expensive but worth it and the light's perfect," Clem approved.
"This is the life!" Semy's boyish moon face glowed. He still was amazed at the ease with which he had achieved the big city in style and all expenses paid through the simple expedient of buttering up a credulous politician and his stupid son.
"You said it!" Herold agreed and winged a Charleston, his Oxford bags flapping. He looked hopefully at the Congress hot baby. "Maybe you and your friend Lucy will show us the town tonight."
Vida glancing at Clem saw him redden at this first mention of Lucy's name. He was still in love with her, Vida thought, and said directly to him, "Lucy asked me to bring you to see the show tonight if you'd like to come and then go backstage afterwards to say hello."
"Oh boy!" Herold included himself.
"Of course she doesn't know you are here but I'll find out if she can get seats for you both too. The show is almost always sold out," she said to Semy.
"Thanks, that would be fine," Semy said mildly, and sent Herold to make drinks before he pulled any more boners.
"It will be good to see her again," Clem accepted stiffly, and looked at Vida as though seeing her for the first time since his arrival. "You've changed. You're quite a New Yorker."
She accepted the comment as a compliment, brushing aside the hint of an ironical overtone. "Thank you. I was a farmer when I arrived but you can't stay that way around Lucy." She wished she could take back the words as Clem looked offended, probably be-
