“I’ll bet he isn’t of a worrying disposition,” was Fred’s comment.
“I don’t believe he ever worried about anything,” answered Gif.
“I think I’ll give him a little bit to worry about,” murmured Andy, tearing a long slip of transparent paper from one of the candy packages the boys had purchased. Taking the slip, Andy rolled it into a long taper with a pointed end. Then he walked down the aisle and took a place in a vacant seat directly behind the sleeping colored man. Reaching over, he began to tickle Jeff in his ear. The colored man paid no attention for a few seconds. But then, very slowly, his hand came up and he brushed his ear. This operation was repeated several times, and caused all of the boys to snicker. Then Andy reached over and tickled Jeff in the nose.
Ker choo! Ker choo! Jeff suddenly awoke with a start and began to sneeze vigorously. As he did this, Andy dropped out of sight while the others pretended to be busy with their papers and magazines.
“My, my! I must be ketchin’ cold,” murmured the colored man. “I guess I’d better close that window,” and he suited the action to the word by bringing the window down with a bang. Then he settled himself for another nap.
Again the end of the pointed taper came in contact with his ear, and again Jeff slapped not once but several times at an imaginary fly. Then once more Andy applied the pointed paper to his nose.
This time the sneezing that followed brought more results than had been expected. Poor Jeff bobbed up suddenly, and then his head came down violently in contact with the seat in front of him.
“My land sakes!” he wailed. “What am the mattah with my nose?” and then he sneezed again.
“You sure are catching a cold, Jeff. Better take another seat where there’s less draft,” suggested Gif.