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"Just William H. Dorsett," says he. "You do it well," says I. He allows the off corner of his mouth to loosen up again, and for a second his deep-set brown eyes steady down as he gives me the once-over. Kind of an amused, quizzin' look it is, but more or less foxy. He crosses his legs and hitches up his chair confidential.
"Maybe," says I. "But the Corrugated don't " "I understand," breaks in Mr. Dorsett. "Quite right too. But here I produce the personal equation. For five weary weeks I've skittered about this city, carrying around with me half a dozen of the ripest, richest franchise propositions ever matured.
Not that I needs it, as I know of, but well, it was kind of good to feel her arm around me just then. "We'll find out all about it later; won't we, Torchy?" she whispers. Meanwhile Mr. Ballard has swung on Dorsett. "So you were trying to pose as Uncle Bill, were you?" he demands. "Well, Sir, you're just about the caliber of man Dick would choose to put his trust in!
Dorsett pats me chummy on the shoulder and proceeds to show me exactly where. "You know the right people," says he. "You're in with them. Very well. All I ask of you is the 'Here's Mr. Dorsett' part. I'll do the rest." "How simple!" says I. "And us old friends of about five minutes' standin'! Say, throw in your reverse or you'll be off the bridge. Who's been tellin' you I was such a simp?" Mr.
Dorsett smiles indulgent. "My error," says he. "But I was hoping that perhaps you might Come, Torchy, hasn't it occurred to you that I would hardly come as an utter stranger? Who do you suppose now gave me your address?" "The chairman of the Stock Exchange?" says I. "Mother Leary," says he. "Eh?" says I, gawpin'. "A flip of fate," says he.
And then, before I've recovered from that jolt, comes this human surprise package labeled Dorsett, who blows breezy into the Corrugated. Fair-haired Vincent, who still holds my old place on the brass gate, brings in his card. "William H. Dorsett?" says I. "Never heard of the party. Did he ask for Mutual Funding?" "No, Sir," says Vincent. "He asked for you, Sir." "How?" says I.
Then perhaps you can tell me who he left that boy of his with when he went West?" "Why, yes," says Dorsett, smilin' fidgety. "He er the fact is, he left him with me." "With you, eh?" says Ballard. "I might have guessed as much. Well, Sir, where's the boy now?" "Wha-a-at?" gasps Dorsett, lookin' from me to Mr. Ballard. "Where, did you say?" "Yes, Sir," comes back Ballard snappy. "Where?"
And, say, the minute them two spots each other things sort of hung fire and stopped. Dorsett he breaks short off what he's sayin', and Mr. Ballard comes to a halt and stands starin' in the room. Next I know he's pushed in, and they're facin' each other. "Pardon me, Sir," says Ballard, "but didn't you cross with me on the Lucania once? And weren't you thick with Dick Ballard?"
Dorsett. I held meetings on two successive days, one attended mostly by the middle class and the other by high caste Hawaiians and the "missionary set," which, perhaps, we might style their "400." My talk was in the form of a discussion and I was surprised and delighted at the fluency of all who spoke, their wide knowledge of world affairs and desire for the franchise.
But I'll bet a thousand you were not finding it so easy to fool his boy here! Going, are you? This way, Sir." "At that, though," says I, as the door shuts after Dorsett, "he had me guessin'." "Yes," says Mr. Ballard, "he would, any of us." "And I don't see," I goes on, "as I got any fam'ly left, after all." "You you don't, eh, you young scamp?" says Mr. Ballard.
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