Thus was made the first public appearance of the Gasowashine, to the utter amazement of some hundred diners.
Bursting through the doors, it snorted for a moment, and seemed to be considering the long rows of tables before it. Several waiters, gasping with astonishment at the uncouth apparition, ran to check its progress.
That seemed to stir the Gasowashine anew. It emitted a sharp puff of rage and plunged headlong forward.
Hawkins pranced along by its side, half turning as he ran to cry:
“Now, just—just make way, ladies and gentlemen, please. It's not at all dangerous. Just make way.”
They made way, without losing any undue amount of time.
One or two women fainted unostentatiously.
Most of them, men and women, scrambled away from the main aisle, which seemed to have been selected by the Gasowashine for its further performances.
“Hawkins,” I panted when I had managed to regain breath, “why don't you knock the cursed thing over?”
“There, there, there, Griggs,” sizzled Hawkins, dashing the perspiration from his eyes. “I've almost control of it now. I'll just shut off this——”