And then a thought struck me that wouldn't let go. So, slippin' out easy and throwin' on a bath-robe, I sneaked downstairs to the back hall 'phone, turned on the light, and hunted up Miss Leroy's number in the book. "Give her a good strong ring, please," says I to Exchange, "and keep it up until you rouse somebody." "Leave it to me," says the operator. And in a minute or so I gets this throaty "Hello!" "Miss Leroy?" says I. "Yes," says she. "Who is calling?" "Ballard," says I. "I'm the fond parent of the nameless baby. And say, do you still stick to Ethelbert?" "Why," says she, "I--er----" "I just wanted to tell you," I goes on, "that this guessin' contest closes at 3 A.M., and if you want to make any more entries you got only forty minutes to get 'em in. Nighty-night." And I rings off just as she begins sputterin' indignant. That seems to help a lot, and inside of five minutes I'm snoozin' peaceful. It was next mornin' at breakfast that Vee observes offhand, as though the subject hadn't been mentioned before: "About naming the baby, now." "Ye-e-es?" says I, smotherin' a groan. "Why couldn't we call him after you?" she asks. "Not--not Richard Junior?" says I. "Well, after both of us, then," says she. "Richard Hemmingway. It--it is what I've wanted to name him all along." "You have?" says I. "Well, for the love of----" "You didn't ask me, that's why," says she. "Why--why, so I didn't," says I. "And say, Vee, I don't know who's got a better right. As for my part of the name, I've used it so little it's almost as good as new. Richard Hemmingway Ballard it shall be." "Oh, I'm so glad," says she. "Of course, I did want you to be the one to pick it out; but if you're satisfied with----" "Satisfied!" says I. "Why, I'm tickled to pieces. And here you had that up your sleeve all the while!" Vee smiles and nods. "We must have the christening very soon," says she, "so everyone will know." "You bet!" says I. "And I've a good notion to put it on the train bulletin down at the station, too. First off, though, we'd better tell young Richard himself and see how he likes it. I expect, though, unless his next crop of hair comes out a different tint from this one, that he'll have to answer to 'Young Torchy' for a good many years." "Oh, yes," says Vee; "but I'm sure he won't mind that in the least." "Good girl!" says I, movin' round where I can express my feelin's better. "Don't!" says Vee. "You'll spill the coffee." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SEWELL FORD'S STORIES May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. SHORTY McCABE. Illustrated by Francis Vaux Wilson. A very humorous story. The hero, an independent and vigorous thinker, sees life, and tells about it in a very unconventional way. SIDE-STEPPING WITH SHORTY. Illustrated by Francis Vaux Wilson.