in the connin' tower.

"Ten millions a year," says he, "and I am offering to put this process
in operation for a five-per-cent. royalty! I've been a mine
superintendent for twenty years, young man, and I know what I'm talking
about."

"Your spiel listens like the real thing, Mr. Rowley," says I; "only we
can't jump at these things offhand. We have to chew 'em over, you know."

Rowley shakes his head decided. "You can't put me off for six months or
a year," says he. "I've been through all that. If the Corrugated doesn't
want to go into this----"

"Right you are!" I breaks in. "Ten days is enough. I'll put this up to
the board next Wednesday week and get a decision. Much obliged to you,
Mr. Rowley, for givin' us first whack at it. We 're out for anything
that looks good, and we always take care of the parties that put us
next. That's the Corrugated way. Good afternoon, Mr. Rowley. Drop in
again. Here's your hat."

And as he drifts out, smilin', pleased and hopeful, I glances over the
spring-water bottle, to see Mr. Robert standin' there listenin' with a
grin on.

"Congratulations!" says he. "That peroration of yours was a classic,
Torchy; the true Chesterfield spirit, if not the form. I am tempted to
utilize your talent for that sort of thing once more. What do you say?"

"Then put it over the plate while I'm on my battin' streak," says I.
"Who's next?"

"A lady this time," says he; "perchance two ladies." And he develops
that eye twinkle of his.

"Huh!" says I, twistin' my neck and feelin' of my tie. "You ain't
springin' any tea-pourin' stunt, are you?"

"Strictly business," says he; "at least," he adds, chucklin', "that is
the presumption. As a matter of fact, I've just been called over the
'phone by Miss Verona Hemmingway's aunt."

"Eh!" says I, gawpin'.

"She holds some of our debenture bonds, you know," says Mr. Robert, "and
I gather that she has been somewhat disturbed by these reorganization
rumors."

"But she ought to know," says I, "that our D.B.'s. are as solid as----"

"The feminine mind," cuts in Mr. Robert, "does not readily grasp such
simple facts. But I haven't half an hour or more to devote to the
process of soothing her alarm; besides, you could do it so much more
gracefully."

"Mooshwaw!" says I. "Maybe I could. But she's only one. Who's the
other?"

"She failed to state," says Mr. Robert. "She merely said, 'We shall be
down about three o'clock.'"

"We?" says I. Then I whistles. S