when I came here she had three of them on the string. Goodness
knows, I didn't want them! They're only imitation men, anyway. And it
was her ring that Buddy had in his pocket."

"Maybe he hadn't lifted it," says I.

Sadie swallowed a bit hard at that; but she raps out the straight goods.
"Yes, he did," says she. "He must have sneaked it out of her room as he
went down stairs. Think of it! Stealing! He's done a lot of foolish
things before; but I didn't think he would turn out a crook. The Lord
knows where he gets that kind of blood from--not from the Sullivans, or
the Scannells, either. But I can't have him put away. There's mother.
And he won't mind a thing I say. Now what shall I do, Shorty?"

"Where's Buddy now?" says I.

"Locked in my clothes-closet, with his hands tied and a gag in his
mouth," says she. "Oh, I can handle him that way, big as he is; and I
wasn't going to take any more chances. But it's likely that Mrs. Pell
has missed her ring by this time and is raising a howl about it. What's
to be done?"

Say, there was a proposition for you! And me just a plain, every-day
mitt juggler that don't take thinkin' exercises reg'lar. "Guess you've
pushed the wrong button this time, Sadie," says I. "But I'll stay in
your corner till the lights go out. Is anyone else on?"

"Not a soul," says Sadie.

"That's some help," says I. "First we'll have a little talk with Buddy."

I couldn't see what good that would do, but it was up to me to make some
kind of a move.

When they'd landed us under the porte cochere--yes, you'd call it
stoppin' at the horse-block--I sails in like I'd come alone, and hunts
up Pinckney.

"What's all this about me bein' needed up here?" says I. "Goin' to make
me Queen of the May?"

"By Jove, Shorty!" says he, "that's a clever idea. We'll do it."

"Yes, you will--not," says I. "You'll cut it out. I ain't no wine agent,
and I left me rag doll to home; so if there's any funny stunts expected,
you tell 'em I've put on a sub. Oh, sure, I'll stay to dinner, but as
for leadin' any cotillions, change the card."

He gave his word they wouldn't spring anything like that on me, and then
he called up a waiter in knee pants, and had him show me up to my
quarters so I could get me gas-light clothes on before they unlocked the
dinin'-room doors. After I'd made a quick shift I slid over into the
next wing, followin' directions, and found Sadie.

"Mrs. Pell's on the war-path already," says she. "She