I said nayther. I said ye had twenty minutes to ate, but that was nineteen minutes ago. There’s yer train whistlin’ fur ye now.
Isaac had been drafted and sent to France. Jacob, his partner, distracted, had begged Isaac to cable when he got over. Three weeks elapse. No cable.
Jacob cables Isaac—Isaac! Woe is us! Our factory burned down ten days ago. Why don’t you cable or write?
Three weeks more. No reply.
Jacob cables again—Isaac! Woe is us! Our storage warehouse burned down last week. Total loss. Settled for $75,000. I am nearly crazy from grief. Why don’t you cable? Are you dead?
Three weeks more. No reply.
Jacob cables again—Isaac! Woe is us! Our main office burned last week. Settled insurance for $90,000. I will die if you don’t cable. Haven’t heard from you at all. Where are you? Are you alive?
Answer comes next day—Jacob, stop that nonsense, spending all our money for cables! I’m all right. You just keep the home fires burning!