“That’s what I ast you.”
“Sure I do! Look here, boy, what have you got up your sleeve?”
“Nothin’ much. Did you ever love any other girl as much as you love her?”
Alfred Griffin flung his checking book down on top of a barrel and stared at Chick in utter astonishment.
“Well, for the love of Pete!” he exclaimed. “What is it to you whether I love her at all or not?”
Chick was not in the least disconcerted at this outburst.
“Oh, it ain’t much to me,” he answered coolly. “I jest thought I’d inquire whether you ever ast her to marry you.”
This was too much for Alfred bearing the surname of Griffin. He burst into a hearty laugh.
“Chick,” he said when he caught his breath, “you’re the limit. I haven’t the ghost of an idea what you’re driving at; but let me tell you, confidentially, that I think you’ve got the wrong pig by the ear. The fellow you want to investigate is Corporal Fred Lewis. He’s got a girl by the name of Rachael, and I know her. And any day he wants to yield up his claim on her, whatever it is, I’ll be glad to drop into his shoes. Do you get me? Now, is that what you want to know?”