Page:Fighting Back (1924).pdf/222

 All set to promote the girl, Ptomaine is off him because he thinks he's her heavy boy friend.

"No!" says Ptomaine, before the Kid can answer. "He ain't Kid Roberts, he's Norma Talmadge!"

The lad flushes and looks a trifle embarrassed, but the girl laughs.

"I love that!" she says, sarcastically viewin' Ptomaine like he's a Airedale cat or the like. "I suppose you're one of the Gish sisters, aren't you?"

"I'm both of 'em!" says Ptomaine with a typical goofy grin.

She smiles at that, but her boy friend is getting burnt up at the pushin' around we're given 'em. He glares at Ptomaine, and Kid Roberts closes his magazine, rises and bows.

"Yes, I am Kid Roberts," he says pleasantly. "May I introduce Joe Murphy, my manager, and Ptomaine Joe, my trainer?"

The boy's face relaxes and he shakes hands heartily with the Kid, lookin' as tickled as if he's mittin' Pres. Coolidge. He didn't do no gushin' over me and Ptomaine.

"I'm certainly delighted to meet you, Mister Roberts," he babbles. "And I hope you'll excuse my thrusting myself upon you in this way, but I've been an admirer of yours for—eh—oh, I'm Richard Pearson, and this is my sister."

"For cryin' out loud!" bawls Ptomaine, jumpin' up. "Why didn't you say before you was just a brother?"