| CHAPTER | |
| I. | BROADWAY TO BUENOS AIRES |
| II. | THANKS TO MISS MORRISSEY |
| III. | A CLOSER CORPORATION |
| IV. | BLUE SERGE |
| V. | "HOOPS, MY DEAR!" |
| VI. | SISTERS UNDER THEIR SKIN |
| VII. | AN ETUDE FOR EMMA |
The door marked "MRS. MCCHESNEY" was closed. T. A. Buck, president ofthe Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company, coming gaily down the hall,stopped before it, dismayed, as one who, with a spicy bit of news athis tongue's end, is met with rebuff before the first syllable isvoiced. That closed door meant: "Busy. Keep out."
"She'll be reading a letter," T. A. Buck told himself grimly. Then heturned the knob and entered his partner's office.
Mrs. Emma McChesney was reading a letter. More than that, she wasporing over it so that, at the interruption, she glanced up in amaddeningly half-cocked manner which conveyed the impression that,while her physical eye beheld the intruder, her mental eye was still onthe letter.
"I knew it," said T. A. Buck morosely.
Emma McChesney put down the letter and smiled.
"Sit down—now that you're in. And if you expect me to say, 'Knewwhat?' you're doomed to disappointment."
T. A. Buck remained standing, both gloved hands clasping his walkingstick on which he leaned.
"Every time I come into this office, you're reading the latest scrawlfrom your son. One would think Jock's letters were deathlessmasterpieces. I believe you read them at half-hour intervals all week,and on Sunday get 'em all out and play solitaire with them."
Emma McChesney's smile widened frankly to a grin.
"You make me feel like a cash-girl who's been caught flirting with theelevator starter. Have I been neglecting business