to
me. When I yelled for help my pocketbook looked like a last
season's autumn leaf in the family Bible. Peaches isn't wise that
I've lost my roll, so it's up to me to make good before she screams
for a receiver."

"But this Skinski proposition," Bunch groaned; "isn't that taking a
long chance? Clara J. was always bitterly opposed to you having
anything to do with a theatrical venture--what will she say?"

"Peaches needn't be in on this at all," I said. "We'll simply put
up a thousand each for the expense money, start Petroskinski, and
after the opening night began to gather in the mazooboes. When we
get all the money we need, we'll sell our interest and bow out.
It's a pipe, Bunch. I tell you, this Skinski has them all faded to
a whisper. He has a bunch of new illusions that will simply make
the jay audiences sit up and throw money at us. And as for
sleight-of-hand and card tricks, well, say! Skinski can throw a
new pack of cards up in the air and bite his initials on the queen
of diamonds before it hits the floor. He's a marvel."

"Where did you find him?" Bunch inquired.

"At a club smoker," I answered. "He was the hit of the evening.
He pulled a few snake tricks down there and in five minutes he had
all the members of the Highball Association climbing the water
wagon. That was the same evening I took Clara J. to the St. Regis
to dinner. Did I ever tell you about it, Bunch? Well, say, it may
help you to forget your troubles. It's a swell joint, all right,
O.K., is the St. Regis, but hereafter me for the beanery thing with
the high stool and the low prices.

"In the St. Regis the faces of the clerks and the clocks gave token
that much money changed hands while it was building.

"In the lobby the furniture was covered with men about town, who
sat around with a checkbook in each hand and made faces at the cash
registers.

"There are more bellboys than bedrooms in the hotel. They use them
for change. Every time you give the cashier $15 he hands you back
$1.50 and six bellboys.

"We took a peep at the diamond-backed dining-room and when I saw
the waiters refusing everything but certified checks in the way of
a tip, I said to Peaches, 'This is no place for us!' But she
wouldn't let go, and we filed in to the appetite killery.

"A very polite lieutenant-waiter, with a sergeant-waiter and two
corporal-waiters, greeted us and we gave the countersign, 'Abandon
wealth, all ye who enter here.'

"