"
"No, sirree, I'll take her life size."
"Watch out, Hermie; remember the upside-down postage stamp!"
"Want to go, Jingle Bells?"
"Sure."
"But I'm on the level, little one. No kidding. Day after to-morrow. St.
Louis--with me!"
Miss Cleone St. Claire drew herself up, the doll look receding somewhat
from her gaze.
"Say, bo, you got me wrong. I'm one of the nine hundred and ninety-nine
thousand chorus girls you could introduce your sister to. Aren't
I, Syl?"
"You let that kid alone," said Miss Sylvette de Long, in a tone not
part of her role. "When the traffic policeman sticks up his mitt it's
time to halt, see?" Lines not before discernible in Miss De Long's face
had long since begun to creep out, smoky shadows beneath her eyes and a
sunburst of fine lines showing through the powder like stencil designs.
"Come on, Herm. It's getting late, and if we want to be down on Cedar--"
"You think I'm kidding this little black-eyed chum of yours, don't you,
Blondey?"
"Sure not! You want 'er to grace the head of your table and wear the
family heirlooms!"
"Well, Sam, you're my brother-in-law--married to my own sister and
living under the same roof with me--am I a habitual lady-fusser, or do
they call me Hermie the Hermit at home?"
"Never knew him to talk ten straight words to a skirt before, girls,"
said Mr.
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