“Ah! that’s different. I am short-sighted—lost my sight in the Mexican war—a shell passed in front of me—I dodged—and though I escaped, it carried the best part of my eyesight with it.”
To this Bob made no reply. He was meditating on how best to get rid of his unwelcome visitor.
Suddenly the man stole over to where he stood.
“Get the machine ready,” he cried.
“What for?”
“For my picture. I want you to take the largest ever taken, regardless of expense.”
“I can’t do that, sir.”
“Why not?”
“I am only a helper here—the proprietor is out. You had better call again.”
“Ha! I would, but I haven’t time, understand, I haven’t time. Every moment of a President’s life is important. I have three ministers to appoint before I go to sleep, and the people harass me to death with their applications.”