“W’y, I heard one o’ you fellows had a girl by the name o’ Rachael, and I didn’t know which one it was.”
“Well, what did you want to know for?”
“I’ll tell you. You see, I’m lookin’ for a job. Not a stiddy all day job, you un’erstand; jest pickin’ up around mornin’s. An’ I didn’t know but what her folks might want such a man. And ef they did, I might git a recommend from whichever one o’ you fellows is sparkin’ the girl. See?”
Alfred, surnamed Griffin, looked at him for a moment quizzically.
“Chick,” he said at last, “you’re the most wonderful prevaricator that has happened since the days of Ananias. I don’t know why you’re lying to me like that; I only know you are. Now you go and hunt up Fred Lewis if you want to, and you pull this stuff on him, and see what you get. But don’t tell him I told you about Rachael. My life wouldn’t be worth a penny whistle if you did. He’s mighty sensitive about that girl.”
Chick was grinning broadly. He did not resent the charge made against him. He knew that his accuser was in the best of humor. He had the information he wanted, and he turned to go.
“All right!” he said. “Much obleeged to you. No hard feelin’s. I’ll do as much for you some time. Fred Lewis works down to the Barriscale, don’t he?”
“Yes; you’ll find him there in the assembling department. He’s got a good job. If he wants to marry Rachael he can afford to.”
“Sure! I won’t tell him you said so, though. He can’t pick nothin’ out o’ me.”
“That’s the talk! Good luck to you! Go to it!”