On With Torchy. Ford Sewell

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СКАЧАТЬ challengers! And—oh, I have it. Each of you Sir Knights must choose his own task, whatever he deems will best please our Princess Charming. What say you to that?"

      There's a murmur of "Good business!" "Bully dope!" and the young gents begin to prick up their ears.

      "Then this is how it stands," goes on Eulalia, beamin' delighted. "Between now and eight o'clock this evening each knight must do his valorous best to win the approval of our Princess. Hers it shall be to decide, the prize her gracious company for next Wednesday night. Come now, who enters the lists?"

      There's some snickerin' and hangin' back; but fin'ly they're all in.

      "All save the Unknown Knight," pipes up Eulalia, spottin' me in the rear. "How now, you of the Crimson Crest? Not showing the white feather, are you?"

      "Me?" says I. "Well, I don't quite get the drift of the game; but if it'll make you feel any better, you can count me in."

      "Good!" says she, clappin' her hands. "And while you are afield I must leave too—another tea, you know. But we all meet here again at eight sharp, with proof or plunder. Teddy, have you decided what to attempt?"

      "Sure," says he. "Me to find the biggest box of candy that can be bought in New York Sunday evening."

      "Oh, splendid!" gurgles Eulalia. "And you, Mr. Westlake?"

      "Orchids," says Sappy. "Grandmother has dandy ones at her place up in Westchester, and I can make there and back in my roadster if I'm not pinched for speeding. I'm going to have a try, and maybe I'll have to steal the flowers too."

      "There!" says Eulalia, pattin' him on the back. "That's a knightly spirit. But what of Crimson Crest? What will you do?"

      "The game is to spring something on Miss Vee better'n what the others put over, is it?" says I.

      "Precisely," says Eulalia, allowin' two of the young gents to help her on with her wraps. "Have you thought what your offering is to be?"

      "Not yet," says I. "I may take a chance on something fresh."

      They was all pilin' out eager by that time, each one anxious to get started on his own special fool stunt, so, while I was mixed up in the gen'ral push, with my hat in my hand and my coat over my arm, it didn't strike me how I could bolt the programme until I'm half crowded behind the open hall door. Then I gets a swift thought. Seein' I wouldn't be missed, and that Vee has her back to me, I simply squeezes in out of sight and waits while she says by-by to the last one; so, when she fin'ly shuts the door, there I am.

      "Why, Torchy!" says she. "I thought you had gone."

      "But it wa'n't a wish, was it?" says I.

      "Humph!" says she, flashin' a teasin' glance. "Suppose I don't tell that?"

      "My nerve is strong today," says I, chuckin' my hat back on the rack; "so I'll take the benefit of the doubt."

      "But all the others have gone to—to do things that will please me," she adds.

      "That's why I'm takin' a chance," says I, "that if I stick around I might—well, I'm shy of grandmothers to steal orchids from, anyway."

      Vee chuckles at that. "Isn't Cousin Eulalia too absurd?" says she. "And since you're still here—why—well, let's not stand in the hall. Come in."

      "One minute," says I. "Where's Aunty?"

      "Out," says she.

      "What a pity!" says I, takin' Vee by the arm. "Tell her how much I missed her."

      "But how did you happen to come up today?" asks Vee.

      "There wa'n't any happenin' to it," says I. "I'd got to my limit, that's all. Honest, Vee, I just had to come. I'd have come if there'd been forty Aunties, each armed with a spiked club. It's been months, you know, since I've had a look at you."

      "Yes, I know," says she, gazin' at the rug. "You—you've grown, haven't you?"

      "Think so?" says I. "Maybe it's the cut-away coat."

      "No," says she; "although that helps. But as we walked in I thought you seemed taller than I. Let's measure, here by the pier glass. Now, back to back. Well, if I ever! Look where your shoulders come!"

      "No more than an inch or so," says I, gazin' sideways at the mirror; and then I lets slip, half under my breath, a sort of gaspy "Gee!"

      "Why the 'Gee'?" says she, glancin' over her shoulder into the glass.

      "Oh, I don't know," says I; "only I don't mind bein' grouped like this, not a bit."

      "Pooh!" says she, but still holdin' the pose.

      "Seems to me," says I, "that Cousin Eulalia is a slick describer. That Princess Charming business ain't so wide."

      "Silly!" says she. "Come and sit down."

      She was steerin' for the windowseat; but I picks out a cozy little high-backed davenport and, reachin' for one of her hands, swings her into that. "Just room for two here," says I.

      "But you needn't keep my hand," says she.

      "No trouble," says I. "Besides, I thought I'd inspect what kind of a manicure you take of. M-m-m-m! Pretty fair, no hangnails, all the half-moons showin' proper, an——" I broke off sudden at that and sat starin' blank.

      "Well, anything else?" says she.

      "I—I guess not," says I, lettin' her hand slip. "You've chucked it, eh?"

      "Chucked what?" says she.

      "Nothing much," says I. "But for awhile there, you know, just for fun you was wearin' something of mine."

      "Oh!" she flashes back. "Then at last you've missed it, have you?"

      "With so much else worth lookin' at," says I, "is it a wonder?"

      "Blarney!" says she, stickin' out her tongue.

      "Did Aunty capture it?" says I.

      Vee shakes her head.

      "Maybe you lost it?" I goes on. "It wa'n't much."

      "Then you wouldn't care if I had?" says she.

      "I wanted you to keep it," says I; "but of course, after all the row Aunty raised over it, I knew you couldn't."

      "Couldn't I, though?" says she, and with that she fishes up the end of a little gold neck chain from under some lace—and hanged if there ain't the ring!

      "Vee!" says I, sort of tingly all over as I gazes at her. "Say, you're a corker, though! Why, I thought sure you'd——"

      "Silly boy!" says she. "I'll just have to pay you for that. You will think horrid things of me, will you? There!"

      She does things in a flash when she cuts loose too. Next I knew she has her fingers in what Eulalia calls my crimson crest and is rumplin' up all them curls СКАЧАТЬ