****
“‘Look & Peak—Gents: Seeing your ad. respecting show you are going to start out with in near future, I would like side-show privilege for my wife, who is the celebrated Fat Emma, with beard two feet long. She——
“Nothing to it!” growled Hiram, breaking in with disgust. “Tear it up.”
“But there’s some kind of funny stuff about her here,” appealed Simon, running his eye down the page. “It makes good readin’.”
“Frame it, then, if you want to,” retorted the showman gruffly. “I don’t want to listen to no such sculch.” He was nipping at the edge of another envelope.
Simon took advantage of the pause.
“I see your brother steppin’ into Judge Willard’s office same as usual this noon,” he said.
“He can step into Tophet three times a day and fry steak if he wants to,” snapped Hiram ungraciously.
“Well, you asked me to keep tabs on him when I see him go in there, and I’m doin’ it, ain’t I? I don’t see no need of yappin’ my head off when I’m tellin’ you what you wanted me to tell you.” Simon was plainly indignant.
“You show altogether too much relish for stickin’ your nose into other folks’ bus’ness,” said Hiram, still in bad temper.