Torchy

runnin' in the sportin' extras that I'm way behind on. You wouldn't guess it in a month, but I'm takin'

says I; "my nut

e that I'm thinkin' of wearin' a leather strap around my

t farm it out for less'n six, anyway. And I don't see where this De Soto comes in. Sounds like he might have played first base for the Beanie

ront office of the Corrugated Trust. And when I ain't takin' cards into the main squeezes, or answerin' fool questions over the 'phone, or chasin' out on errands for

t it'll all come in handy to me sometime, and I'm doin' it just to keep him satisfied. We get together most every night in his room, and I has to cough up what I've got next to durin' the day. And say, when I

n' and pipes off the 'rithmetic. "What

re wa'n't anybody there but the janitor; so I'm takin' a

idea?"

that I draws the line at Greek. I'd never want to talk li

o the fact that Mallory's a two seasons' old football hero from his old college he yanks him

owe chiefly to you,

was winnin' all that when you did that sprint for goal your friend Dicky was tellin' about the other

I'm afraid that in thi

up some securities gets him rattled. He hadn't been gone more'n an' hour 'fore he calls me up on the 'phone and says some broker's c

ck stamps at the gen'ral post-office, and it's a gag them curb shysters has wore to a frazzle. You

Mallory comes back lookin' like some one had s

slump I found him in next night, when I g

says I, "or has Miss Tuttifrutti

button of his vest. "I guess I'm what you would call a fal

hole, and chokes to death; others mixes 'em up with eggs and things, and knocks

nd of sore on the way Mr. Robert lugged Mallory in by the hair, 'cause I heard him growlin' somethin' about makin' a kindergarten out of the Corrugated; so

down and get it for us." Like that, offhand, as if it was

osest he gets to Russky is a minute with a cocky secretary that says his Excellency is very sorr

backs up the a

do," says Mallory. "He went off

y for 'em, so's not to be jacked up for bein' a monopoly. Why didn't you give him the lo

he, "and it came back. So I've flunked. I think

n't that

e corner. "If doin' the knowledge stunt leaves you with

I'd jabbed him with a pin. "Do I

vin' any weight-liftin' ex

, "you're right. I'm acting like a quitter. But I don't mean to let go just yet. Hanged if I don't

g else you've said in a week," says I. "

"Come on. I may need

you, and was goin' to butt into any Fifth-ave. hotel along about di

hook out the wrinkles and got himself inside the view was worth while. After he's blown

Smith tied to a post. If you acts

give him any points I thought of. We goes in a cab, too, in over the rub

ry, shovin' his card across at

d gone. He hadn't left any word. And he didn't receive callers after four P.M., anyw

side. If Kazedky misses seein' Mr. Mallory to-night, you'll be called up to-morrow to hear some Russian language that'll

the fire lines on a brass trunk check, "You'll find the m

ed for noth

the fence. Mallory and I takes a turn through the corridors and past the main dinin'-room, where

r the 'phone; but Mallory's got his jaw set now and says he don't mean to leave until he has some

hitey Buck. You know about Whitey, don't you? Well, you've seen his name printed across the top of the sportin' page that he runs

. "Who you been workin'

"Why, I took your head for

gainst a freeze out, Mr. Mallory an

l-page sympose knockin' reformed football, and if you'll take off a thousand-word opinion I'll blow you to anything on the bill of

mean anything more'n that Whitey s

ays he, "but whatever football reputat

turf with eleven men after him? Don't you do it. Besides, you can't. Why, that run of yours through th

ut me," says he, "and I'll come down and wreck the office. I'm out of all that now, and into somethi

ants to know

out to do business with a Russian Baron, and I'm such a

says Whitey.

," says Mallory. "Don't h

porty Russian Prince was over here and got himself pinched at a prizefight? Kazedky

nd out where he is

ed by a gang of Chamber of Commerce men, who are feeding him ruddy duck and terrapin and

Mallory; "but how ca

ou with?"

Trust," sa

y wouldn't let you within a mile of him if they knew. But say, s

ld," say

rrow noon

tay at the office until I ge

if I have to drag him by the collar. But he's a fussy old f

Mallory. "He can tal

" says Whitey. "Now let's see wh

comes out, towin' a dried-up little old runt with a full set of face lambrequins and a gold dog license hung round his neck from a red ribbon. He had his napkin in one hand and half a dinner roll in the other; so it didn't look

t shaking hands with the greatest quarterback America ever produced. Mr. Mallor

he spot. He grabs Kazedky's flip

some mistake," says the Baron.

some of Mr. Buck's tomfool

l," says the Baron, tryin' to back

him. "What I want to talk to you about is steel

he hospital six weeks and havin' four hungry kids at home. I only hears the start of it; for as soon as he got well under way Mallory starts for the other

velvet chair and camps down on it to watch the promenade. That's what it was, too; for Mallory acts like he'd forgot everything he ever knew except that he's got to t

tall, he has to lean over to pump his speech into the old fellow's ear; but every now and

to see what's happened to the guest of the evenin'. They saw, all right! They must have b

watchin' 'em, and they was talkin' over makin' a rush for the Baron and rescuin' him, I guess, when Mallory leans him up against the wall, hauls out a pad and

im, motions to me, and pikes for the elevator. The last glimpse I has of Kazedky, he's bein' pulled i

llory to me, as the car

hat!"

contract

ll? I thought you was pull