“Then you ain’t on?” said he. “It’s the slickest ever. You notice that little fancy cup on the shelf?”
I told him I had noticed it.
“Well,” commenced he, “that cup does the business. We are not allowed to receive any tips, and we tell everybody so, and we also tell them about the fancy cup, and tell them we cannot help it if they want to send a present to our baby, and it is a nervy guy who will toss in less than a quarter on a plea like that. It looks small, you know. Besides, my baby has not been feeling well for the past few days.”
“So you are married and got children?” said I.
“Well, no; not exactly. I am not married, and of course haven’t any children, but I have the sweetest baby you ever saw. She is about twenty-seven summers old, and if any one should ask you, she is about the warmest baby in the bunch, and she does need money. Say, my friend, a chap came in here yesterday that put a dollar into that fancy little dish and he said, as he did it:
“That’s for the baby.”
I got out of the chair. As I did so he handed me the fancy cup. This made me mad, and I said to him:
“Look here, you tonsorial lobster, you and your baby will be obliged to worry along without anything from me for a while longer,” and I looked him fair in the eye that he might understand I meant business.
“That’s all right, my friend. You do exactly as you please, of course. Should be pleased to have you call again, and will treat you the best I know.”
He certainly was the limit and was trying hard to make me feel like a two-cent piece. As I turned my eyes from him they encountered a very fetching pair of eyes that belonged to the manicure lady. She not only had a fine pair of eyes, but she knew how to use them. I had always thought I would like to have one of those chiropodist ladies hold my hand for me, but I always hated to have it happen before a lot of barbers; but this one was different. She could have held my hands sitting on the sidewalk on Chestnut Street, with all the shoppers loose on the street. She made me put one of my hands in water and soak it up for a while, and then she commenced to get in her work. Say, but she had the softest hands and the most delicate touch. Oh, my! It just took my breath away for a minute. After a while I began to get a little used to it and found myself able to talk.