Torchy and Vee | Page 5

Nobody seemed to know much about
such a business. It had been tried in places. Vee heard of something of
the sort that was being tested up on the East Side. So it was three or
four days before she was ready to spring this new career on Marion.
But one night, after dinner, she announces that she's all set and drags
me down there with her. Outside of the old Gray house we finds a
limousine, with the driver dozin' inside.
"It's the Biggles car!" whispers Vee. "Oh, what if he should be----
Come, Torchy! Quick!"
"You wouldn't break in on a fond clinch, would you?" I asks.
"If it came to that, certainly," says Vee, pushin' the front-door button
determined.
I expect she would have, too. But Biggles hadn't got that far--not quite.
He's on the mat all right, though, with his fat face sort of flushed and
his eyes popped more'n usual. And Marion Gray seems to be sort of
fussed, too. She is some tinted up under the eyes, and when she sees
who it is she glances at Vee sort of appealin'.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to interrupt," says Vee, marchin' right in and takin'
Marion by the arm. "You'll pardon me, I hope, Mr. Biggles, but I must
speak to Miss Gray at once about--about something very important."
And almost before "Puffy" Biggles knows what's happened he's left
staring at an empty armchair.
In the cozy little library Vee pushes Marion down on a window seat
and camps beside her. Trust Vee for jabbin,' the probe right in, too.
"Tell me," she demands whispery, "was--was he at it again?"
Marion pinks up more'n ever. And, say, with them shy brown eyes of
hers, and all the curves, she ain't so hard to look at. "Yes," admits
Marion. "You see, I had promised to give him a final answer tonight."
"But surely, Marion," says Vee, "you'd never in the world tell him that
you----"
"I don't know," breaks in Marion, her voice trembly. "There seems to
be nothing else."
"Isn't there, though!" says Vee. "Just you wait until you hear."
And with that she plunges into a rapid outline sketch of this dinner
dispensary stunt, quotin' facts and figures and givin' a profit estimate
that sounded more or less generous to me.
"So you see," she goes on enthusiastic, "you could keep your home,
and you could keep Martha, and you would be doing something
perfectly splendid for the whole community. Besides, you would be
entirely independent of--of everyone."
"But do you think I could do it?" asks Marion.
"I know you could," says Vee. "Anyway, we could between us. I will
furnish the capital, and keep the accounts and help you plan the daily
menus. You will do the marketing and delivering. Martha will do the
cooking. And there you are! We may have to start with only a few

family orders at first, but others will come in fast. You'll see."
By that time Marion was catching the fever. Her eyes brighten and her
chin comes up.
"I believe we could do it," says she.
"And you're willing to try?" asks Vee.
Marion nods.
"Then," says Vee, "Mr. Biggles ought to be told that he needn't wait
around any longer."
"Oh, I don't see how I can," wails Marion. "He--he's such a----"
"A sticker, eh? I know," says Vee. "And it's a shame that he should
have another chance to bother you. Torchy, don't you suppose you
could do it for her?"
"What?" says I. "Break it to Biggles? Why, I could do it swell. Leave it
to me. I'll shunt him on the siding so quick he won't know he's ever
been on the main track."
I don't waste any diplomatic language doin' it, either. On my way in
where he's waiting I passes through the hall and gathers up his new
derby and yellow gloves, holdin' 'em behind me as I breaks in on him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Biggles," says I, "but it's all off."
"I--I beg pardon?" says he, gazin' at me fish-eyed and stupid.
"Ah, let's not run around in circles," says I. "Miss Gray presents her
compliments, and all that sort of stuff, but she's goin' into another line.
If you must know, she's going to bust up the cook combine, and from
now on she'll be mighty busy. Get me?"
Biggles stiffens and stares at me haughty. "I don't in the least
understand anything of all this," says he. "I had an appointment with

Marion for this evening; something quite important to--to us both. I
may as well tell you that I had asked Marion a momentous question. I
am waiting for her answer."
"Well, here it is," says I, holdin' out the hat.
Biggles, he gurgles something indignant and