Part 27 (1/2)

He'd hardly gone when Vee slips up beside me and touches me on the arm.

”We can't do anything with her,” she whispers mysterious. ”Don't say a word, but come.”

”Can't do anything with who?” says I.

”Joey,” says she. ”She's in the library, and we can't find out what is the matter.”

”Wha-a-at! Joey?” says I.

It's a fact, though. I finds Joey slumped on a couch with her shoulders heavin'. She's doin' the sob act genuine and earnest.

”Well, well!” says I. ”Why the big weeps?”

She looks up and sees who it is. ”Torchy!” says she between sobs.

”Dud-don't tell him. Please!”

”Tell who?” says I.

”B-b-b-blair,” says she. ”I--wouldn't have him know for--for anything.

But he--he--what he said hurt. He--he called me a meddlesome old maid.

It was something I had to do too. I--I thought he'd understand. I--I thought he knew I--I liked him!”

”Eh?” says I gaspy.

”I've never cared so much before--about what the others thought,” she goes on. ”I'm just Joey to them, out for a good time. I'll always be Joey, I suppose, to most of them. But I--I thought Blair was different, you know. I--I----”

And the sobs get the best of the argument. I glances over at Vee puzzled, and Vee shrugs her shoulders. We drifts back as far as the door.

”Poor Joey!” says Vee.

”Is it straight,” says I, ”about her and Blair?”

Vee nods. ”Only he doesn't know,” says she.

”Then it's time he did,” says I.

”There!” says Vee, givin' me a grateful look that tingles clear down to my toes. ”I just knew you could help. But how can----”

”Watch!” says I.

I finds him packin' his precious violin and preparin' to beat it.

”See here, Hisc.o.c.k,” says I. ”Maybe you think you're the only one whose feelin's have been hurt this evenin'.”

He stares at me grouchy.

”Ah, ditch the a.s.sault and battery!” says I. ”It ain't me. But there's someone in the lib'ry you could soothe with a word or two maybe. Why not go in and see her?”