check and filled in the usual health chart and so on, I proceeds to
throw in a few extras about how Son was makin' the great discovery that
most folks was more or less human, after all. Oh, I spread myself on
that part of it, givin' full details!

"And if that don't charm an extra five out of the old girl," thinks I,
"I miss my guess."

Does it? Well, say, that happy thought stays with me for about ten
days. At times I figured the bonus might be as high as a fifty. And
then one mornin' here comes a ruddy-faced old party that I spots as
Colonel Upton. He calls for Mortimer, and the two of 'em has a
ten-minute chat in the corridor. Afterwards Morty interviews Miller,
and when he comes out next he has his hat and overcoat with him.

"So long, Torchy," says he. "I'm leaving."

"Not for good!" says I. "What's wrong?"

"Mother," says he. "In some way she's found out about the sort of
people I've been going around with, and she's kicked up a great row,
got Father on the cable, and--well, it's all off. I'm to travel abroad
for a year or so to get it out of my system."

"Gee!" says I as he goes out to join the Colonel. "Talk about boobing
a swell proposition! But that was too good to last, anyway. And,
believe me, if I'm ever asked again to be friendly on a salary, I bet I
don't overdo the thing."