"That's right," says I, edgin' around her towards the door. "And you
wa'n't, was you?"

Some glance she shot over; but it didn't prove fatal. And as I rides
down I couldn't help swappin' a wink with the elevator boy.

"Feelin' frisky, eh?" says he. "So was them other young guys. One of
'em tipped me a half."

"That kind would," says I. "They're comin' back. I'm escapin'."

But, say, who do you guess wins out for Wednesday night? Ah, rattle
'em again! Eulalia fixed it up. Said it was Vee's decision, and she
was bound to stick by the rules of the game, even if they did have to
throw a bluff to Aunty. Uh-huh! I've got three orchestra seats right
in my pocket, and a table engaged for supper afterwards. Oh, I don't
know. Eulalia ain't so batty, after all.




CHAPTER II

PULLING A SLEUTH STUNT

Trust Piddie for workin' up wild suspicions. Say, he can't find a
stray sheet of scribblin' paper on the floor without pouncin' sleuthy
on it and tryin' to puzzle out the hidden meanin'.

So when I get the buzzer call to Old Hickory's private office and finds