The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-05
&c S;cSs THE TIMES NOVEL. scs s
'sTORCHY''


49, 49, 49, -
young man by the name of Nal
lory."
Say. ! was wide awake at that.
Mallory" says /. Il can find
out. Did you want to see him on
business?'' II
1T is a personal matter" says
he. lis he here?"
Now, let's not rush this" saws
L. My orders is to find out"
Very we'll" says the gent.
there is my card. And perhaps /
should mention that 1 have the
honOr-er-I suppose, 20 be his
father-in-law."
Say, and here I was, up against
the senator himself. Course il was
my cue to shrivel up and do the f
low saiaam; but all can think OF /
at the minute is to look him over
Gee" says 1. Then you're on /
his trail. eh?"
Maybe 1t was the grin fetched \
him' Tor them square mouth cor
ners ffickers little and he don't
Throw any fit. Evidently you are
somewhat familiar with the cir
eumstances," says he. May I ask
II you are sufficiently favored
with the confidence of my new
son-in-law to know where he and
my-er-his wife happen to be
just now"
admite it," saws I; "but If 7
you're thinkin' of springinR' anv /
manner music on Skid, you can
look for another party, fer YOU
won't get it out of me ia n thou |
sand years."
All" says he. 81 see Young
i.ochinvar has at least ON cham
pion. Allow me to state that nv I
intentions are pacific. My wife and
merely wish, before sailing. 10
pay a formal call on our daueh- |
ter and her new husband. Now
II you could give me their ad- |
dress"
Why. say, Senator" says I, az
you amt lookin' to start anv-
thing, l can do better. I'm going
up there myself this minute, and
If Mrs"
"She is waiting downstairs In
the cab" says he. Nothing would
suit us better"
So it's me climbin' up on the
front seat with the driver of a
fancy hotel taxi, papa and NAM
ma behind, and off rolls the sur
prise party.
Wen, you know them cut rate
apartment houses, with a flossy
reception room, all marble slabs
and burlap panels and no eleva-
tor. The West Indian at the tel
ephone exchange says we'll find
the Mallorys on the top floor back
to the left. That meant four
flights to climb, which might ac-
count for the lack of conversation
on the way up. Mallory, with his
coat off, his cuffs rolled back, and
his face steamed up, answers the
ring himself.
All. that you, Torchy?" says
he.
I'VE were just wondering IL
you would Why-er-ah-"
and as he gets sight of the old
couple out in the dark hall he
breaks off sudden.
Its all right" says /. He's
promised to give the peace sign.
You know the Senator, don't you,
Skid?"
The SENATOR" he gasps out.
Il believe l once had the pleas
ure of seeing Mr.. Mallory" says
the old boy. comm to the front
graceful. Hope you will par
don the intrusion; but"
Just then, though, Sis appears
from the kitchen. She takes one
look at Skid, another at the Sem
ator, and then behind the old
man she spies Mother.
Well, it's just a squeal from
one, and a sigh from the other,
and before anything more can be
said they've gone to a fond elineh,
each pattin' the other on the back
and passin' appropriate remarks.
Somehow, l guess the Senator
hadn't quite figured on this part
of the program. Whateveh Moth
err might have meant to do when
she started, 1t was all off from
the minute Sis let out that squeal.
And no sooner had we got our
selves edged sideways into the
cute little parfor, than Mother an
nounces how she means to stay
right here until it's time to start
for the steamer. Did some one
say dinner? Goodi She'll stay
to dinner, then.
At this Sis looks at Skid and
Skid he looks at Sis, but young
Mrs. Mallory amt one to be
stumped as easy as that.
''Oh, goodyl" says she. clappin'
her hands. But, Mother, what is
1T you do to make dumplings puff
out after you've dropped them in
the lamb stew"
"Dumplingsl Lamb stewl" says
Mother. Gracious, Don't ask me,
child. I haven't made any for
years. Doesn't your cook known"
she doesn't" says Sis. II am
the cook, Mother"
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