Torchy As A Pa

're makin' your debut in the part. And I expect for a few months there, after young Richard Hemmingway Ballard came and settled down with Vee a

t nothing at all to me. And she wasn't fussed or anything when company came in and caught her at it. Also young Master Richard seemed to be right at home from the very first. Didn't seem surprised or strange or nervous in the presence of of a pair of

. No. I expect I do most of the things I shouldn't and only a few of them that I should. But 'Ikky-boy ain't a critical youngster. That's his own way of sayin' his name and mostly we call him that. Course, he answers to others, too; such as Old Scout, and Snoodlekins, and

e's doin' and come to us the minute we call. Maybe we should, too. But that ain't the way it works out, for generally, we don't want anything special, and he seems so wrapped up in his private little affairs that it don't seem worth while breakin'

a wide grin on his chubby little face. That's along about 6:15 when I blow in from town. Then he's right there with the merry gre

That's his f

young freshy," I'm ap

h, with Buddy yappin' delighted and mixin' in promiscuously. Finally we end up on th

behavin' yourselves, eh?" I'll ask. "Wh

he head with a pink fist. "See?" And he'll exh

u young rough-houser," I'll say. "Who do

s always t

t?" I'll

," he'

come in?" I'll

mischievous and say: "Torchy

m to be on 'Ikky-boy's list at all. He picked up the Torchy all by himself and he seems to want to stick to it. I don't mind. Maybe it ain't just the thing f

e the color scheme of his permanent thatch. But when the second growth begun to show up red she had to revise her forecast. Now there's no doubt of his achievin' a pink-plus set of

" says Vee "I

in a crowd. Folks will remember him after one good look. Besides, it's always sort of cheerin' on a rainy day. He'll be able to brighten up the corner where he is without any do

Vee's Auntie. Last time she was out here she notice

the little fellow's hair would

ody-black, eh?" says I

so-so conspicuou

I, "in carryin' your own spot

sniffs and cha

do anything that seems to strike her just right. Mostly she disapproves of me, and she's the kind that ain't a bit backward about let

afternoon reunion. Might be we went at it a little stronger and rougher than usual,

!" he shouts, grippin' both

says I makin'

-boy wanna ride

st pressed!" says I. "Say,

"that I don't consider that the

on't mind

n such expressions and us

s I. "He's clever that way. A

n' off my knee to make a dive at

a child," says Auntie, "an

I, "if he'd be polite to me, bu

s lucky the times she's decided to cross me off as one of her heirs don't show on me anywhere or I'd be notched up like a yardstick, and if I'd done any worryin' over these spells of

"that he's about 100 per cent. boy? He's full of pep and jump a

o use slang is at all necessary. As you know, tha

ing of the kind before. And take it from me I'm going to make a stab

of Buddy's collar and

itch it. It ain't lady like or refined. And in future when you convers

" he remarks boisterous, makin' a grab

rts Auntie, retirin' ha

Might as well go the limit, Snoodlekins. W

on the scene of our strained domestic relations. Trust her to appear at ju

be to be better posted on your affairs than you are yourself, and, of course, that keeps her reasonably busy. Also she's a lady gusher from Gushville. Now, I don't object to havin' a conve

ow, Mrs. Robert Ellins just told me of what an important day it was in the lives of you two charming young people, so I came right

omeback. "Yes, you're lucky, all right," says I. "Anothe

om Vee. She don't like Mrs. Proctor Butt a bit more'n

h an ideal young couple. As I tell Mr. Butt, I just can't

e of you to say so,"

young people and children, positively adore them. And now where is the darling little baby that I haven't seen for months and months? You'll forgive my runn

a model just then for him and Buddy was havin' a free-for-all mix-up behind

rgles on. "I must hold you in my arms j

ely armful just now," warns Vee. "You see, wh

"Besides, the little dears always seem to

im, Torchy

uddy in another room, and deposits 'Ikky-boy, still kickin' an

. "Oh, what exquisite silky curls of spun gold!" she gushes. "And such heavenly

she and Vee have agreed on, that strangers wasn't to be allowed to take any such liberties with baby. Besides, Auntie never did have any use for this Mrs. Butt a

Butt, rootin' him in the stomach with her nose. "Won

cuts loose with the rough motions, fists and feet both in acti

ttle toe-tis

ushin' her face away fretfu

?" gasps

ys he "Oo-oo give 'Ikky-boy

wildered; and then, as she spots that approvin' s

kled over anything. What she's worked up is almost a grin

anguage--" and handin' the youngster over to Vee

ess we got a slap on

in' her chin well up. "She had no bu

" says I, "only I'd just promised Auntie t

ays Auntie, "I might use the s

s for your not knowin' how, that's easy fix

tucked into his crib, what does the young jollier do but climb u

e, Richard?" she asks, smoo

, blinkin' up at her mus

he will again? I