ere comes a ruddy-faced old party that I spots as
Colonel Upton. He calls for Mortimer, and the two of 'em has a
ten-minute chat in the corridor. Afterwards Morty interviews Miller,
and when he comes out next he has his hat and overcoat with him.

"So long, Torchy," says he. "I'm leaving."

"Not for good!" says I. "What's wrong?"

"Mother," says he. "In some way she's found out about the sort of
people I've been going around with, and she's kicked up a great row,
got Father on the cable, and--well, it's all off. I'm to travel abroad
for a year or so to get it out of my system."

"Gee!" says I as he goes out to join the Colonel. "Talk about boobing
a swell proposition! But that was too good to last, anyway. And,
believe me, if I'm ever asked again to be friendly on a salary, I bet I
don't overdo the thing."

CHAPTER V

BREEZING BY WITH PEGGY

He's a great old scout, Mr. Ellins. But he always knows where he wants
to get off, all right. He don't whisper his ideas on the subject,
either.

"Boy," says he the other mornin' as I answers the buzzer, "I am
expecting two young persons to call this forenoon, two young wards of
mine. Huh! Wards! As though I wasn't busy enough with my own affairs
without---- But never mind. Chandler is the name."

"Yes, Sir," says I. "Chandler. Rush 'em right in, shall I?"

"No!" snorts Old Hickory. "What I want you to do is to use a little
sense, if you have any. Now, here! I have a committee meeting at ten;
those K. & T. people will be here at ten-forty-five; and after that I
can't say whether I'll be free or not. Of course I must see the young
nuisances; but meantime I want to forget 'em. I am trusting to you to
work 'em in when they'll be the least bother."

"Got you," says I. "Chink in with Chandlers. Yes, Sir. Anything
more?"

"No. Get out!" he snaps.

Fair imitation of a grouch, eh? But you got to get used to Old
Hickory. Besides, there was some excuse for his bein' peeved, havin' a
pair of kids camp down on him this way. Course I was wise to the other
details. Didn't I take their 'phone message to Mr. Robert only the day
before, and send back the answer for 'em to come on?

Seems this was a case of a second cousin, or something like that, a
nutty college professor, who'd gone and left a will makin' Mr. Ellins a
guardian without so much as askin' by your leave. There was a Mrs.
Chandler; but she don't figure in the guardianship. The you