But Clifford just keeps on tryin' to work his elbows clear and looks dazed. "I don't know," says Cliffy, "truly I don't, Cousin Robert. They've been following me for an hour, and I've had an awful time." "Maybe you've been makin' a noise like a wienerwurst," says I. About that time Aunt Julie comes paddin' out. "Did I hear some one say Clifford?" says she. "You did," says Mr. Robert. "There he is, the one with the ear muffs. I haven't found out who the others are yet." "Phe-e-e-ew!" says she, takin' one sniff, and with that she grabs out her scent bottle and runs back, slammin' the door behind her. "Cliffy," says I, "you don't seem to be makin' much of a hit with your Ellis Island bunch." "What I want to know," says Mr. Robert, "is what this is all about!" But Clifford didn't have the key. All he knew was that when he started to leave the subway train they had tagged after, and that since then he hadn't been able to shake 'em. Once he'd jumped on a Broadway car; but they'd all piled in too, and the conductor had made him shell out a nickel for every last one. Another time he'd dodged through one of them revolvin' doors into a hotel, and four of 'em had got wedged in so tight it took half a dozen porters to get 'em out; but the house detective had spotted Clifford for the head of the procession and held him by the collar until he could chuck him out to join his friends. "It was simply awful!" says he, throwin' up his hands. And then I notices the rattan cane. After that it was all clear. "Where'd you cop the stick, Cliffy?" says I. "Stick!" says he. "Why, bless me! I must have taken this instead of my umbrella. It belongs to that gentleman who sat next to me in the subway train. You see he was leaning back taking a nap in the corner, and I was trying to talk to him, and when I left I suppose I took his cane by mistake." "Well," says I, "the Zinskis goes with the cane." It's a fact, too. Most all them immigrant runners carries rattans when they're herdin' gangs of imported pick artists around to the railroad stations. It's kind of a badge and helps the bunch to keep track of their leader. Most likely them Zinskis had had their eyes glued to that cane for hours, knowin' that it was leadin' 'em to a job somewheres, and they wa'n't goin' to let it get away. "Gimme it," says I; "I'll show you how it works." Sure enough, soon's I took it and started for the door the whole push quits eatin' cheese and bread out of their pockets and falls in right after me. "Fine!" says Mr. Robert, grabbin' my hat and chuckin' it after me. "Go on, Torchy! Keep going!" "Ah, say!" says I. "I ain't subbin' for Cliffy. This is his gang." But Mr. Robert only grins and motions me to be on my way. "If you come back here before to-morrow morning," says he, "I'll discharge you on the spot." Now wouldn't that bump you? "All right," says I: "but this'll cost Cliffy just twenty." "I'll pay it," says Mr. Robert.