hey have, you chump! They're to hide your mawlers in."

"Don't be so bright," said Skippy indignantly. "But what _do_ we put
into them, then?"

"Handkerchief."

"Rats. I know better than that. You stick a handkerchief up in front and
pull out just the tip of it."

"Perhaps it's for a toothbrush if you're staying over night."

"No, but honest, what do you put in them?" said Skippy, who did not wish
to miss a trick.

They thought this over a long moment, and then gave it up as greater
intelligences, pondering on the mysteries of existence, have given it
up.

"Well, ta-ta. See you below."

"Where you goin'?"

"I'm going to break in the family one by one," said Snorky, wagging his
head. "Lettin' 'em get over the shock. I'm taking no chances."

Left to himself, Skippy hastened to his own preparations. At the risk of
being acclaimed a traitor to the sex, we must record here the truth,
that with five mirrors surrounding him and one in the bathroom, it took
Skippy exactly forty-five minutes to perfect his toilette from every
angle of observation. First he burrowed into his shirt which deranged
the part in his hair and necessitated another period of readjustment.
Then he put on his trousers and adjusted the suspenders until each
trouser leg hung with the crease untroubled and just clear of the boot.
But having done this he discovered, as others have discovered, that
patent shirt-studs sported in an unaccustomed place, require the fullest
play of the arms. The placing of the studs was of itself the most
delicate of operations and twice he went down on his knees and halfway
under the bed to retrieve the upper one which popped out just as he
thought he had it securely imprisoned. Once more he adjusted the
suspenders, and began work on the stiff collar which caught his throat
and forced up his chin. After five minutes' struggle he succeeded in
fastening this with the aid of a buttonhook, and suddenly the thing he
had feared was upon him. He had forgotten, completely forgotten, the
white tie!

What was he to do? Snorky was beyond the reach of assistance. Twice he
had heard shouts of uproarious delight down the hall marking his chum's
progress in breaking in the family. The house was huge and Snorky by
this time was down on the second floor or even practicing in the parlor.
He went through the motions of searching through his valise but he knew
all the while that it was futile. He had forgotten the final touch, the
_sin