Torchy," says Vee, sort of snugglin' up. "If it hadn't
been for you!"

"That's my aim in life," says I--"to prove I'm needed in the fam'ly."

CHAPTER IV

HOW HAM PASSED THE BUCK

I expect you'll admit that when Mr. Robert slides out at 11 A.M. and
don't show up again until after three he's stretchin' the lunch hour a
bit. But, whatever other failin's I may have, I believe in bein' easy
with the boss. So, when he breezes into the private office in the
middle of the afternoon, I just gives him the grin, friendly and
indulgent like.

"Well, Torchy," he calls over to me, "have I missed anyone?"

"Depends on how it strikes you," says I. "Mr. Hamilton Adams has near
burned out the switchboard tryin' to get you on the 'phone. Called up
four times."

"Ham, eh?" says he, shruggin' his shoulders careless. "Then I can
hardly say I regret being late. I trust he left no message."

"This ain't your lucky day," says I. "He did. Wants to see you very
special. Wants you to look him up."

"At the club, I suppose?" says Mr. Robert.

"No, at his rooms," says I.

"The deuce he does!" says Mr. Robert. "Why doesn't he come here if
it's so urgent?"

"He didn't say exactly," says I, "but from hints he dropped I take it
he can't get out. Sick, maybe."

"Humph!" says Mr. Robert, rubbin' his chin thoughtful. "If that is the
case--" Then he stops and stares puzzled into the front of the
roll-top, where the noon mail is sorted and stacked in the wire baskets.

I don't hear anything more from him for two or three minutes, when he
signals me over and pulls up a chair.

"Ah--er--about Ham Adams, now," he begins.

"Say, Mr. Robert," says I, "you ain't never goin' to wish him onto me,
are you? Why, him and me wouldn't get along a little bit."

"I must concede," says he, "that Mr. Adams has not a winning
personality. Yet there are redeeming features. He plays an excellent
game of billiards, his taste in the matter of vintage wines is
unerring, and in at least two rather vital scrimmages which I had with
the regatta committee he was on my side. And, while I feel that I have
more than repaid any balance due-- Well, I can't utterly ignore him
now. But as for hunting him up this afternoon--" Mr. Robert nods at
the stacks of letters.

"Oh, all right," says I. "What's his number?"

Mr. Robert writes it on a card.

"You may as well understand my position," says he. "I have already
invested some twenty-five