"Oh, not in a disturbing way," says Zenobia. "And I'm sure I almost do the same whenever your friend the rector is here. Torchy, have you ever been talked to about your soul?"
"Once when I drifted into a mission a guy sprung that on me," says I.
"Yes?" says Zenobia. "What then?"
"I told him to go chase himself," says I.
Hearty chuckles from Zenobia, while Sister Martha turns pale and gasps.
Next thing I know I'm tellin' Mrs. Preble about my fallin' out with Mother Sykes, and how I guess I'd better be pikin' up to engage a thirty-cent room until I can draw on my reserve and locate a new boardin' place.
And, say, what do you guess that conversation leads up to? Well, it struck me all in a heap at the time, though I didn't let on; but I couldn't figure out the answer until I'd had a talk with Mr. Robert next day.
"Say, Mr. Robert," says I. "You don't happen to know an old party by the name of Zenobia Preble, do you?"
"I do," says he. "It isn't exactly an accident, either. She is a cousin of my father."
"Gee!" says I. "Cousin to the old—to the boss! Wh-e-ew!"