Fat Day, needing no second summons, immediately bolted out. He gamboled and pranced and grimaced and “wiggled” his ears, to the applause of the amphitheater and the tremendous excitement of the menagerie.
“Lemme! It’s my turn!” besought Snoopie.
“No, lemme!” implored Nixie.
“You said I could go first, didn’t you, John?” reminded Billy.
Privately, you thought that the honor should be yours; but you waived your rights as proprietor and decreed:
“Yes, let Billy go first, ’cause I promised.”
Out went Billy and distinguished himself by all the feats in his repertoire, after each one saluting with the expansive gesture of the real professional. Having exhausted the trapeze, and having poised for a breathless instant on his head, he finished by vaulting over three saw-horses, in lieu of elephants, and plunging into the dressing-room.
“Now I’m goin’,” asserted Snoopie.
“Naw; it’s my turn!” opposed Tom and Nixie together.
But Snoopie shoved between them and past you, and was in the ring.