The Champagne Doll

Being a private investigator means two things. You can be sure you'll run into trouble and you can never be sure you can get out of it. Well, there's not much you can do about it, I guess.

Except, like Julie always says, Walk softly, Peter Troy. Now, Peter Troy investigates the Champagne Doll. As part of an assignment, I once had my secretary, Julie, keep tabs on a certain dollar who was supposed to be going around with a particularly sleazy hood I wanted to track down.

She reported to me that this girl had left her apartment building in the company of a man. What did he look like I asked? Oh, I can't remember what he looked like, she said, but you should have seen the dress the girl was wearing.

A fetching little number in carnation red with a scooped out bag. I'm sure it's a model, all in George and Silk. And she had her here in the Cleopatra style, you know? And the accessories?

Well, that was where I tuned out. Now, the point I'm making is that this passion for observing women's dress to the exclusion of all else may just be the reason that there aren't too many lady private eyes around. I've come to the profound conclusion that there is a marked difference between men and women but I'd be the last to knock it for was this

particular difference that once saved my life. Here we are Julian. Dan say I didn't deliver you home safe and sad. Oh thank you Roger it was sweet out here. Somebody's got a standing for Peter while he's working night and day on that forgery business. Yes poor dear he never seems to rest these days he's been in that