"Nix on the dream work, Skinski," I cut in. "We've put up our good money to start you, so let's get down to the programme."
"Oh! very well," said Skinski; "but I was down to see my brokers to-day in Wall Street and there are doings. I've got a plantation full of gold out near the Blue Hills, and——"
"Please don't smoke, there are ladies present!" admonished Bunch.
"Oh, very well!" said Skinski, and forthwith he launched into a description of his various tricks.
The waiter had just brought our luncheon when a large blondined shadow fell across the festive board, and Skinski jumped to his feet, followed by Bunch and yours surprisedly.
"Permit me!" Skinski said; "our new backers, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. John Henry! this is Mademoiselle Dodo, the Human Guessworks. She's my assistant in the mind-reading tests, and she's all to the elegant. Will you feed the face, Dodey?"
"You betcher sweet!" Dodo replied, as she splashed into the chair provided by the waiter, while I glanced at Bunch sideways and found him on the verge of a fainting fit.
[Illustration: "You betcher sweet!">[
"I've told Dodey all about you two glad boys," Skinski went on, "and she's for you, ain't you, Dodey?"
"You betcher sweet!" Dodo chimed in, with a hungry glance at the cooked stuff.