Close stared at Johnny in silence for a moment after their guests had gone. 

 "I told you so," he said. "You'll have to give him up as a bad job." 

 "He's beginning to look like a good job," asserted Johnny. "He can be handled like wax, but you have to melt him. Schnitt's the real reason. Do you know Schnitt?" 

 "I am happy to say I do not," laughed Close. "One like Ersten is enough." 

 "Somebody must lead me to him," declared Johnny. "I'm going to see Schnitt in the morning. I'd call to-night if I didn't have to be the big works at a Coney Island dinner party." 

 "I don't see how Schnitt can help you," puzzled Close. 

 "He's the tack in the tire. I can see what happened as well as if I had been there. Ersten knew he ought to move. Lofty tried to buy him and Schnitt tried to force him. Then he got his Dutch up. Schnitt left on account of it. Now Ersten won't do anything." 

 "You can't budge him an inch," prophesied the banker. "I know him." 

 "I'll coax him," stated Johnny determinedly. "There's a profit in him, and I have to have it!" 

 

 

 CHAPTER XV 

 IN WHICH WINNIE CHAPERONS THE ENTIRE PARTY TO CONEY ISLAND 

 At the last minute, Aunt Pattie Boyden fortunately contracted a toothache—and the Coney Island party was compelled to go unchaperoned. They tried to be regretful and sympathetic as the six of them climbed into the big touring car, but Ashley Loring found them a solace. 

 "Never you mind," he soothed them—"Polly will chaperon us." 

 "You've lost your address book," declared that young lady indignantly. "Polly Parsons is not the person you have in mind. I'll be old soon enough without that! The chaperon of this party is my adopted sister, Winnie." 

 

 Prev. P 83/152 next