ed!" says he. "Ah, the merciless perspicacity of youth! But
don't tell the others. And put those papers on my desk."

"Yes, Sir," says I, and after I've spread 'em out I backs into the bay
window and sits down.

"Well, what are you doing there?" says he.

"Waiting orders," says I. "Any errands, Mr. Ellins?"

"Errands?" says he. Then, after thinkin' a second, he raps out, "Yes.
Do you see that collection of bottles and pills and glasses on the
table? Enough to stock a young drugstore! And I've been pouring that
truck into my system by wholesale,--the pink tablets on the half-hour,
the white ones on the quarter, a spoonful of that purple liquid on the
even hour, two of the greenish mixtures on the odd, and getting worse
every day. Bah! I haven't the courage to do it myself, but by the
blue-belted blazes if---- See here, Boy! You're waiting orders, you
say?"

"Uh-huh!" says I.

"Then open that window and throw the whole lot into the areaway," says
he.

"Do you mean it, Mr. Ellins?" says I.

"Do I--yah, don't I speak plain English?" he growls. "Can't you
understand a simple----"

"I got you," I breaks in. "Out it goes!" I don't drop any of it
gentle, either. I slams bottles and glasses down on the flaggin' and
chucks the pills into the next yard. I makes a clean sweep.

"Thanks, Torchy," says he. "The doctor will be here soon. I'll tell
him you did it."

"Go as far as you like," says I. "Anything else, Sir?"

"Yes," says he. "Provide me with a temporary occupation."

"Come again," says I.

"I want something to do," says he. "Here I've been shut up in this
confounded house for four mortal days! I can't read, can't eat, can't
sleep. I just prowl around like a bear with a sore ear. I want
something that will make me forget what a wretched, futile old fool I
am. Do you know of anything that will fill the bill?"

"No, sir," says I.

"Then think," says he. "Come, where is that quick-firing, automatic
intellect of yours? Think, Boy! What would you do if you were shut up
like this?"

"Why," says I, "I--I might dig up some kind of games, I guess."

"Games!" says he. "That's worth considering. Well, here's some money.
Go get 'em."

"But what kind, Sir?" says I.

"How the slithering Sisyphus should I know what kind?" he snaps.
"Whose idea is this, anyway? You suggested games. Go get 'em, I tell
you! I'll give you half an hour, while I'm looking over this stuff
from the offic