And so the Sleuth set off upon his trail immediately, but Richard, like many a courtly gentleman, proved to be as diffident as he was bold. “Why don’t you like women?” he was asked. And he replied: “Because.” “Because what?” the Sleuth persisted; whereupon Richard raised his eyebrows with an air of finality. “Because I don’t,” he said. “Don’t you like your Mama?” he was asked, and regarded the questioner scornfully. “She isn’t a girl,” quoth he. “But she probably was once!” The Sleuth hazarded a guess. Alas, at this point Richard was called to bed. But the next day the argument was continued. It was after a nerve-racking game of puss-in-the-corner, when the assembled court had been astonished at the lion-hearted Richard’s chivalry. Twice had he surrendered his hard-earned corner to a fluffy little four-year-old blond. The Sleuth joshed him as man to man. But Richard smiled about it, and man-like waived present contingencies to speak glittering generalities. “Girls,” he said, “are like fish.” But he omitted further details; and as he mused on the matter, his thoughts fell into metaphors. “Like fish,” he repeated solemnly. And then he spied a crop of bobbed and almost masculine hair that was bouncing outside the hedge fence. “Or like hares. Some say that they are chickens, but I think that they are more like trees.” “Because they wear fine feathers,” someone contributed. “Certainly,” he agreed. “But you don’t think they’re all shady, do you?” the Sleuth hastened to interpose. “Most are,” he sighed. And at this point he rose, to show that the interview was at an end, and, swinging his tin drum about his neck, he solemnly paraded down the block to that very masculine tune “Johnny get your Gun.” DAUGHTER-GOOSE RHYMES I Little Jack Horner Sat in a corner Busily writing checks ... His partners grew lazy, His balance hazy, His creditors all became wrecks! II Flitter, flitter, little dime, You can stay here a long time. If I leave you as I oughter Pretty soon you’ll be a quarter! III Little Miss Millions Longed to have billions, And dreamed about trillions beside; But while she was sighing, Not working, just crying ... Her bank account dwindled and died! Little Miss Penny Didn’t have any Money at all, but she tried; And so she kept saving, And ardently slaving ... And she owned a house when she died! IV Ride in a taxi, The Biltmore for lunch ... Eat ... for the music Will play while you munch. Eat all you want to, While large grows your dome ... For after you’ve eaten You’ll have to walk home! V Old Mr. Croesus Was worried to pieces To pay for the monthly rent ... For what with investments, And bonds and assessments, He found all his money had went! VI