“D——n it! stand up, can’t you?” cried Mr. Ele.
“No, I can’t,” replied Abel, with a half-humorous maudlin smile.
At the same moment the impetuous roar of the crowd in the street stole in through the closed windows.
“Newt! Newt! Newt!”
“What in —— shall we do?” gasped Mr. Enos Slugby, walking rapidly up and down the room.
“Who let him get drunk?” demanded General Belch, angrily.
Nobody answered.
“Newt! Newt! Newt!” surged in from the street.
“Thunder and devils, there’s nothing for it but to prop him up on the balcony!” said General Belch. “Come now, heave to, every body, and stick him on his pins.”
Abel looked sleepily round, with his eyes half closed and his under lip hanging.