e feathers at six A.M.
Just as natural as could be too, I gets out the new safety razor I'd had
hid away for a couple of months past, and inside of fifteen minutes I'd
had my first shave. Does that get by them keen eyes of Zenobia! Not for
a minute!

"Ah!" says she, pattin' me sort of casual on one cheek as she comes down
to breakfast.

That's all; but she not only takes in the shave, but the best blue serge
suit I've put on, and the birthday tie, and the Sunday shoes. I only
grins sheepish and slides out as soon as I can.

You see, accordin' to my plans, I wouldn't have gone near that steamer
for any sum you could name. That being the case, it was odd I should
call up the pier and find out if the boat was on time at Quarantine.
Also it was some strange the way I opened up on Piddie.

"Say, Mr. Piddie," says I, "any prospects of an outside run for me
to-day?"

"Not in the least," says he. "I suppose, though, you would like a chance
to waste some of the company's time on the street?"

"Me?" says I. "Why, I'd hate it. I was only afraid I'd have to go, with
all this inside work to be done."

"Humph!" says he. "You needn't fear. I shall see that nothing of the
sort happens."

"Ah, you're a bird, you are!" says I.

"Perhaps," says Piddie.

"Then climb a tree and twitter," says I; for it made me grouchy to think
I'd let a bonehead like him get a rise out of me.

The more I chewed it over, though, the stronger I was for breakin' loose
about dockin' time. Maybe I didn't want to go to the pier; but if he was
bent on throwin' the gate on me, that was another proposition. I got
sorer and sorer and I was on the point of chuckin' the job at Piddie's
head and walkin' out on my own hook, when who should come stormin' in,
scowlin' and grumblin' to himself, but Mr. Robert. And he had a worse
attack than I did.

"Torchy," says he, wheelin' around halfway to his office, "ring up Pier
Umpty-nine and find out when that blasted steamer is due."

"The Kaiser boat?" says I. "She'll dock about two-forty-five."

"Eh?" says he, some startled. "Now, how the----Never mind, though. Sure
about the time, are you?"

"Yep," says I.

"Dash it all!" says he. "That's Marjorie, though! Any word from the
Consolidated Bridge people yet?"

"Not yet," says I, and slam goes his door.

Took me three minutes by the clock to dope out the combination too,
which shows how gummed up my gears was. But when I'd fitted them two
remarks together,