Perk had no sooner arranged his head-phones after seeing that Jack had his fixed for service, than he commenced business at the old stand. Perk was just burning to get certain things out of his system that had been dammed up by his playing dumb on the previous evening.
“So far as I know nothing has been overlooked Perk—if only that left wing aileron doesn’t play us a dirty trick and fall off, we’ll be alright.”
“I tell you I tested it an’ it’s okay, Jack, don’t crab my game if you have any respect for my feelin’s. When I say a thing’s all to the good it’s there, every time.”
“Forget it brother, we’ve both been under a heavy strain lately and apt to show undue anxiety. Today ought to prove which way the wind’s going to blow for us. See, already she’s at the old job, covering every rod of ground with the powerful glasses. All I can say is I wish her all the luck going, poor kid.”
“But just the same you ain’t any too—er—sanguine—is that the word I want, partner? A sort o’ yearnin’, hopin’ but kinder afraid things mightn’t turn out so well in the end?”
“I get you, Perk, and according to my notion there are three of us in the same boat right now. I’m holding the ship in right along, so we’ll make certain nothing gets away from us.”
“Yeah, an’ by the way Jack, didn’t I see our good pal, Bart, stick somethin’ in your pocket jest before we skipped off—looked kinder like a piece o’ paper to me—did you ask him for his home address or somethin’ like that?”
Jack laughed.
“So you saw him do that, did you, old Hawk-eye—no, I didn’t ask him for anything in that line—he did more than enough for us as it was.”
Perk seemed to be consumed with curiosity which he made no attempt whatever to smother, for after a bit of grunting he went on to say suggestively: