Ellins before the week's out. But
don't get your hopes up; for he turns down enough propositions to fill a
waste basket every day. Express elevator at No. 5. So long," and I
chokes off Mr. Tuttle's vote of thanks by wavin' him out the door.

It's well along in the afternoon before I sees an openin' to drop this
option in front of Old Hickory, grabbin' a minute when his desk is
fairly clear, and slammin' it down just as though it had been sent in
through Piddie.

"Delivered on," says I. "Wants rush answer by mail."

"Huh!" grunts Old Hickory, lightin' up a fresh Cassadora.

That's all I expected to hear of the transaction; so about an hour
later, when Piddie comes out lookin' solemn and says I'm to report to
Mr. Ellins, I don't know what's up.

"Is it a first degree charge, Piddie," says I, "or only for
manslaughter?"

"I presume Mr. Ellins will discover what you have done," says he.

"Well, hope for the worst, Piddie," says I. "Here goes!"

And the minute I sees what Old Hickory has in front of him, I'm wise.

"Torchy," says he, givin' me the steely glitter out of them cold storage
eyes of his, "Mr. Piddie seems to know nothing about this Michigan
option."

"If he admits that much," says I, "it must be so. It's a record,
though."

"What I want to know," goes on Mr. Ellins, "is how in blue belted blazes
it got here. You brought it in, didn't you?"

"Yep," says I. "It was this way, Mr. Ellins: Piddie had it put up to him
and wouldn't even hang it on the hook; but the guy that brings it looked
so mournful that I butts in and takes a chance on passin' it along to
you on my own hook."

"Oh, you did, eh?" he snorts.

"Sure," says I. "I got to do the fresh act once in a while, ain't I?
Course, if you want a dead one on the gate, I can hand in my portfolio;
but I thought all you had to do with punk options like this was to toss
'em in the basket and then have 'em fired back at----"

"Fire nothing back!" says Mr. Ellins. "Why, you lucky young rascal,
we've been trying to get hold of this very property for eight months!
And Piddie! Bah! Of all the pin-headed, jelly brained----"

"Second the motion," says I, springin' the joyous grin.

"That will do," says Old Hickory, catchin' himself up. "Just you forget
Mr. Piddie and listen to me. Know this Tuttle person by sight, don't
you?"

"Couldn't forget him," says I. "Want him on the carpet?"

"I do," says he. "Have him here at ten-thirty to-morrow morning. But