"Why it's only Torchy, from Papa's office," says Marjorie. "And oh, Mildred! He is the very one to help us! You will now, won't you, Torchy? Come, that's a dear!"
"Please do, Torchy!" says Mildred, snugglin' up on the other side and pattin' my red hair soothin'.
"Ah, say, reverse English on the tootsy business!" says I. "This ain't any heart-throb matinee. G'wan!"
"Why, Torchy!" says Marjorie, real coaxin' "I thought we were such good friends!"
"Well, I'm willin' to let it go that far," says I; "but don't try to ring in any folksy strangers. I'm here on business for the firm."
Just then too down comes the maid sayin' there wa'n't anything to go back; so I starts to beat it.
I didn't get far, though, with a hundred and ninety pound young lady blockin' the doorway.
"Torchy, you must help us!" says Marjorie. "There isn't anyone else we can ask. And you're always doing such clever things for Papa and Brother Bob!"
Say, it was a puffy lot of hot air she hands out; but I admit that after two or three more speeches like that, and with her promisin' to square anything Piddie might have to say about not comin' back, she had me goin'.
"Well, what's the proposition?" says I.