From Oh, Murderer Mine, by Norbert Davis

***

Despite his size, the fierce, jet-black mustache he was wearing was still too big for him and Melissa got the impression the mustache was leading him around willy-nilly.

***

"Gluck-gluck-gluck," Melissa said in frustrated incoherence. "Gluck!"

***

"We are the Misses Aldrich," said the faces.

"Are--are there two of you?" Doan asked.

"Yes. We're twins.... We are specialists," said the Aldriches in fascinating unison, "in the emotional and social conditioning of pre-school-age children."

***

"Oh, phooey with an olive," said Beulah Porter Cowys.

***

["Rhetorical 'you knows' answered" dept.]

"Early to bed and early to rise, you know."

"I know," Melissa agreed.

***

"Are [the Misses Aldrich] gone for good?" she asked. "They're a little too plural for me at this hour."

***

["Pooh!" + "Bah!" = a (Grand?) Pooh-Bah?]

"Pooh-Bah!"

***

It was a voice that was hoarsely hollow and smooth at the same time. It sounded a little like a billiard ball rolling down a rain spout.

***