Torchy As A Pa

. to Mr. Robert Ellins is one I wouldn't swap for Tumulty's-unless they came insistin' that I had to go to the White House to sav

ard performer in almost any line. Course, a good deal of it is just his josh, but somehow it ain't a habit I'm anxious to cure hi

, "I'm no mi

t at least you might try to suggest something. You

home for gettin' in

ys I. "What are the

ice. After havin' been a good and faithful cook for 'steen years; first for Mrs. Ellins's mother, and then being handed on

as chairman of the downstairs soviet. Stella is a middle-aged, full-chested, kind of old-fashioned female who probably thinks a Bolshevik is a limb of the Old Boy himself and ought to be met with holy water in one hand and a red-ho

. And now Danny has a fine home of his own. Yes, with a piano that plays itself, and gilt chairs in the parlor, and a sedan top on the flivver, and beveled glass in the front door. Also he has a stylish wife who has "an evenin' wrap trimmed with vermin and is learnin' to play that auction

r that big family, I suppo

ut would I be sittin' in the parlor with my hands folded,

"But who would go on adding to your sav

she would be gone. And as Mr. Robert finishes a piece of Stella's blue ribbon mince pies and d

hotel, moving into town, and facing a near-French menu three times a day

inducing Stella to stay-if you were no

ld," s

e could only have the benefit of some of it here; even the help of one of your bright young m

obert. "They would bring a trained

t, you remember. Mr. Wise Business Man solves the domestic problem by hiring two private dete

t you a hundred Torchy could go on that case and

says Mrs

was let in. But I might not have started so

t of the winter. We'll miss going there for an occasional Sunday dinner, too. Besides, Stella ought t

es. "I wish I knew where

I might have missed the connection if I'd been doin' a sleep walkin' act. As it is I'm pikin' past the servants' wing out toward the garage to bring around the little car for

Thursday afternoon." But for me and Sherlock that's as good as a two-page description. A

ur own fireside, "what friend has Ste

arlows' upstairs maid,"

didn't you have a snapshot of St

sure she has

t, will yo

iring line rubberin' at the signs over the employment agencies. Must have been about the tenth hallway I'd scouted into before I ran across th

or a colder, more suspicious pair of lamps than belongs to this o

ou can just sneak back and report nothing doing. Madame Zenobia has gone out of business. Besides, I ain't

ein' for a livin'? Honest, now? Besides, the trance stuff is just what I'm lookin' for. And I'm not exp

et we

of Eros, young man," s

elative, a lost wrist watch, or gettin' advice on buyin' oil stocks. It's a case of a cook with

think I follow you, child of the sun. Rat

o free with the expense money. And listen, Madame; ther

the cards laid out and hear their past and future read. Even a simple trance sitting doesn't satisfy. They must hear bells rung, s

ays I,

time, and he had the patter down fine. But how could I keep a real artist like that with a movie firm offering him five times the money? I hear those whis

e lamberquins. She might try to put it over alone, but she couldn't guarantee anything. Yes, she'd keep the snapshot of Stella, and remember what I said about the brother

Wednesday had gone the same way. Mr. Robert was gettin' anxious. He reports that Stella has set Sa

e time off," say

e time off," says

you ever try walkin' down an idea? It's a good hunch. The one I was tryin' to surround was how I could sub in for this Al Nekkir party myse

sudden, just as I'm passin' the stone lions in front of the public library, this freak looms up out of the crowd. Course you can see 'most anything on Fi

o his chin. Besides that, he wore a green leather cap such as I've never seen the mate to, and he had a long, sol

sort of folksy at people as he passed. Still, I didn't think he noticed me among so many and I hadn't thought of stoppin' him. I'd gone on, wonder

you have the face of

ouch, if that's what you me

e land what one does who has great hunger

on't pass out the coin reckless, though. Generally I tow 'em to

ve great hun

m opposite me at a chop house table. "How about a slice of roast bee

it is forbidden me to ea

milk with a hunk of pumpkin pie on the side. And in spi

says I, "but are y

Burmese gentleman," says he. "I am

says I. "Suppose I use only the

is only my title, as

. And maybe you're willin' to tell how yo

t that the young Englishman signed him up for a two-year jaunt around the world. His boss was some hot sport, though, I take it, and after a big spree coming over on a Pacific steamer from Japan he'd been taken sick with some kind of fever, typhoid probably, and was makin' a mad d

to be easy for a man of your size to land some kind of

attendants at th

n a button-holin' machine, or was a paper hanger, or could handle a delivery truck, or could make good as a floor walker in the me

?" says he, s

oes on. "Don't hook over the ears

me they g

ackle any light work

he, "or touch their dead bodies. And I may not se

long while I stack you up against

n propped up in one hand and a cigarette danglin' despon

cked up on Fift

them weary old eyes of hers lights up. "By the kind stars and the

bia, to present the Ho

lik kuhn Balla Ben, from the Temple of Aj Wadda,

ised!" says M

min' voice that sounds like it came f

e has the speech and bearing of him to the life. You may leave us, child of the sun,

got any dope on. You can stall her off with anything. The fat, waddly one with the two gold front teeth will be Stella. She's the party with the wilful di

," says she, w

ect. I'd like to know just how it was done. Oh, she got it, all right. And it must have been mighty convincin', for when Vee and I drives up to the Ellinse

person!" says she. "You d

" sa

ert. "She is unpacking her trunk! However did yo

ook Madame Zenobia

didn't have the details myself. As for Mr. Robert, he's just as pleased as anybody, only he lets on how he was

belong to you. But sometime, Torchy, I'd like to have you o

ext day to hand her the final instalment, she and the Hon. Sour Milk are just finishing a he-si

comes don't think Zenobia doesn't know it by sight. Look!" and she hands

your servants consult Madame Zenobia, the Mysti

xpect that inside of a week you'll have the street lined with limou

dy I have made four appointments for this

says I, "it'll be as good as ownin' a Texas gusher.

ntil I materialized Sarrou Mellik as the wise man of I

hange. Remain, woman, where thou art, for there and there only will some

d. That's enough to make anybody a fixture anywhere. She may be t

Mr. Robert when I sketches out how w

way every time I see her," says he. "Some great good fortune

hould worry. Even if she does get the idea that you're holdin' out on her, she won't da

vest and indulges in a cat-and-canary grin.