Page:Arthur Stringer - Twin Tales.djvu/88

78 It was Gunboat Dorgan who could do for her what the situation demanded.

Her only way of getting in touch with young Dorgan, she remembered, was through Ruby Reamer. But Ruby's telephone number had been left with her in case of need, and with impulse still making her movements crisp she went to the telephone and called up her model.

"Ruby," she said in the most matter-of-fact tone of which she was capable, "can you tell me where I can find your friend, Mr. Dorgan?"

There was a ponderable space of silence.

"And what do you want with me friend Mr. Dorgan?" asked the voice over the wire, not without a slight saber-edge of suspicion.

Teddie entrenched herself behind a timely but guarding trill of laughter.

"It's for something I can't very well tell you," she said, "something that I'll be able to explain to you later on."

And again a silence that was obviously meditative intervened.

"Of course I've never tried to butt in