"You mean you're going to finance a tour for this unknown magician
and expect to win out? Say, John, don't let my troubles affect
your brain; I'll be good and stop crying!"

"I mean, Bunch, that Skinski is the wonder of the age, and all we
have to do is to show him to the public and they'll be handing us
their jewelry. You know, Bunch, I'm a few chips shy myself on
account of a side play which my wife knows nothing about. I
promised her to make a first payment of $5,000 on that new home
we're going to buy on the first of the year, and I fell down and
broke my promise. I thought I could drag the homestead money away
from the Street, so I took a few slices of Amalgamated Copper and
burned my thumb. Old Colonel Frenzied Finance didn't do a thing to
me. When I yelled for help my pocketbook looked like a last
season's autumn leaf in the family Bible. Peaches isn't wise that
I've lost my roll, so it's up to me to make good before she screams
for a receiver."

"But this Skinski proposition," Bunch groaned; "isn't that taking a
long chance? Clara J. was always bitterly opposed to you having
anything to do with a theatrical venture--what will she say?"

"Peaches needn't be in on this at all," I said. "We'll simply put
up a thousand each for the expense money, start Petroskinski, and
after the opening night began to gather in the mazooboes. When we
get all the money we need, we'll sell our interest and bow out.
It's a pipe, Bunch. I tell you, this Skinski has them all faded to
a whisper. He has a bunch of new illusions that will simply make
the jay audiences sit up and throw money at us. And as for
sleight-of-hand and card tricks, well, say! Skinski can throw a