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TORCHY

CHAPTER I

GETTING IN WITH THE GLORY BE

Sure, I was carryin' the banner. But say, I ain't one of them kids that
gets callouses on the hands doin' it. When I'm handed the fresh air on
payday, I don't choke to death over it. I goes out and rustles for
another job. And I takes my pick, too. Why not? It's just as easy.

This time I gets a bug that the new Octopus Buildin' might have been put
up special for me. Anyway, it looked good from the outside, and I blows
in through the plate glass merry go round. The arcade was all to the
butterscotch, everything handy, from an A. D. T. stand to Turkish baths
in the basement.

"Got any express elevators?" says I to the starter guy.

"Think of buying the buildin', sonny?" says he.

"There'd be room for you on the sidewalk if I did," says I. "But say, if
you can tear your eyes off the candy counter queen long enough, tell me
who's got a sign out this mornin'."

"They're going to elect a second vice-president of the Interurban
to-day. Would that suit you?" says he, twistin' up his lip whisker and
lookin' cute.

"Maybe," says I; "but I'd take a portfolio as head office boy if I knew
where to butt in."

"Then chase up to 2146," says he. "You'll find 'em waitin' for you with
a net. Here's your car. Up!" and before I knows it I has done the
skyrocket act up to floor twenty-one.

Well say, you wouldn't have thought so many kids read the want ads. and
had the courage to tackle an early breakfast. The corridor was full of
'em, all sizes, all kinds. It looked like recess time at a boys' orphan
asylum, and with me against the field I stood to be a sure loser. I
hadn't no more'n climbed out before they starts to throw the josh my
way.

"Hey, Reddy, get in line! The foot for yours, Peachblow!" they yells at
me.

And then I comes back. "Ah, flag it!" says I. "Do I look like I belonged
in your class? Brush by, you three-dollar pikers, and give a salaried
man a show!"

With that I makes a quick rush at 2146 and gets through the door before
they has time to make a howl. The letterin' on the ground glass was
what got me. It said as how this was the home office of the Glory Be
Mining Company, and there was a string of high-toned names as long as
your arm. But the minute I sizes up the inside exhibit I wasn't so
anxious. I was lookin' for about a thousand feet of floor space; but all
I could see was a couple of six by n