"You said that before; but what's up?"
"At first I was afraid I was going to die," Alf declared tremulously.
"Yes?"
"And now I'm afraid I won't die!"
Alf sat up shivering convulsively.
"Now, Alf," Tom pursued, "tell me just what happened."
By degrees the young engineer extracted the information that he was after. Bit by bit Alf told the tale, interspersing his story with dismal groans.
"I always told you, Alf, that smoking would do you up if you ever tackled it," Reade said gravely.
"But I have smoked for a year," Alf protested.
"Oh, no," Tom contradicted him. "The use of cigarettes isn't smoking. It's just mere freshness on the part of a small boy. But smoking—-that's a different matter, as you've found out. Now, Alf, I hope you've learned a needed lesson, and that after this you'll let tobacco alone. While you're about it you might as well quit cigarettes, too. But I'm going to change your job. Don't go back to the cook. Instead, report to me in about an hour."