"I know exactly what you are going to say, but it will be all right next time. It was the fault of the compositor that your name was spelled wrong."
"I wasn't——"
"I was going to ask you whether it was three men or only two that you knocked out at that scrap referred to in the second column; I'm afraid I got that wrong. But never mind, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, anyhow. He! he! he!"
"No such incident ever occurred, and I——"
"Tut! tut!" interrupted the reporter, with a shocked look. "What made you tell me the yarn, then?"
"I——"
"Never mind, we'll have to let it go now; and, after all, it doesn't make much difference. But you ought to be more particular in talking to reporters in the future, my dear young friend."
"If I——"
"Oh, that's all right—— No thanks. Hello! there goes a man I've got to see right now. S'long!"
And the scribe rushed out, leaving Al staring helplessly after him.