“Well,” says I, “what’s the joke?  Shoot it!”

At that into the room bounces a couple of girls, somewhere around ten and twelve, I should judge; tall, long-legged kids, but cute lookin’, and genuine live wires, from their toes up.  They’re fairly wigglin’ with some kind of excitement.

“We know who you are!” singsongs one, pointin’ the accusin’ finger.

“You’re Torchy!” says the other.

“Then I’m discovered,” says I.  “How’d you dope it out?”

“By your hair!” comes in chorus, and then they goes to a panicky clinch and giggles down each other’s necks.

“Hey, cut out the comic relief,” says I, “and give me a turn.  Which one of you is Peggy?”

“Why, who told you that?” demands the one with the red ribbon.

“Oh, I’m some guesser myself,” says I.  “It’s you.”

“Pooh!  I bet it was Uncle Ferdinand,” says she.

“Good sleuth work!” says I.  “He’s the guy.  But I didn’t know he had such a cunnin’ set of nieces.  Most as tall as he is, ain’t you, Peggy?”

But that don’t happen to be the line of dialogue they’re burnin’ to follow out.  Exchangin’ a look, they advance mysterious until there’s one on each side of me, and then Peggy whispers dramatic: 

“You came to see Miss Vee, didn’t you?”

“Vee?” says I, lookin’ puzzled.  “Vee which?”

“Oh, you know, now!” protests Jane, tappin’ me playful.

“Sorry,” says I, “but this is a baby visit I’m payin’.  Ask Uncle Ferdinand if it ain’t.”

“Humph!” says Peggy.  “Anyone can fool Uncle Ferdy.”

“Besides,” says Jane, “we saw a picture on Vee’s dressing table, and when we asked who it was she hid it.  So there!”

“Not a picture of me, though,” says I.  “Couldn’t be.”

“Yes, it was,” insists Jane.

“A snapshot of you,” says Peggy, “taken in a boat.”

I won’t deny that was some cheerful bulletin; but somehow I had a hunch it might be best not to let on too much.  Course, I could locate the time and place.  I must have got on the film durin’ my stay up at Roarin’ Rocks last summer.

“In a boat!” says I.  “Of all things!”

“And Vee doesn’t want anyone to know about it,” adds Jane, “specially her aunty.”

“Why not?” comes in Peggy, lookin’ me straight in the eye.

“Very curious!” says I, shakin’ my head.  “What else did Vee have to say about me?”

“M-m-m-m!” says Peggy.  “We can’t tell.”

“We promised not to,” says Jane.

“You’re a fine pair of promisers!” says I.  “I expect you hold secrets like a wire basket holds water.”

“We never said a word, did we, Peggy?” demands Jane.

“Nope!” says Peggy.  “Maybe he’s the one Vee’s aunty doesn’t like.”

“Are you?” says Jane, clawin’ my shoulder excited.

“How utterly thrillin’!” says I.  “Say, you’re gettin’ me all tittered up.  Think it’s me Aunty has the war club out for, do you?”