FOREWORD

In the Nature of an Alibi

Some of these stories were written while the Great War was still on. So the setting and local coloring and atmosphere and all that sort of thing, such as it is, came from those strenuous days when we heroic civilians read the war extras with stern, unflinching eye, bought as many Liberty bonds as we were told we should, and subscribed to various drives as cheerfully as we might. Have you forgotten your reactions of a few short months ago? Perhaps then, these may revive your memory of some of them.

You may note with disappointment that Torchy got no nearer to the front-line trenches than Bridgeport, Conn. That is a sentiment the writer shares with you. But the blame lies with an overcautious government which hesitated, perhaps from super-humane reasons, from turning loose on a tottering empire a middle-aged semi-literary person who was known to handle a typewriter with such reckless abandon. And where he could not go himself he refused to send another. So Torchy remained on this side, and whether or not his stay was a total loss is for you to decide.

S. F.

CHAPTER		PAGE
I	THE QUICK SHUNT FOR PUFFY	[1]
II	OLD HICKORY BATS UP ONE	[19]
III	TORCHY PULLS THE DEEP STUFF	[37]
IV	A FRAME-UP FOR STUBBY	[56]
V	THE VAMP IN THE WINDOW	[73]
VI	TURKEYS ON THE SIDE	[91]
VII	ERNIE AND HIS BIG NIGHT	[108]
VIII	HOW BABE MISSED HIS STEP	[126]
IX	HARTLEY AND THE G. O. G.'S	[145]
X	THE CASE OF OLD JONESEY	[164]
XI	AS LUCY LEE PASSED BY	[182]
XII	TORCHY MEETS ELLERY BEAN	[200]
XIII	TORCHY STRAYS FROM BROADWAY	[222]
XIV	SUBBING FOR THE BOSS	[238]
XV	A LATE HUNCH FOR LESTER	[256]
XVI	TORCHY TACKLES A MYSTERY	[272]
XVII	WITH VINCENT AT THE TURN	[290]

FOREWORD

Contents