“Vell,” he demands, “vot is idt?”
“When does the last train go to Cleveland?” inquires the stranger.
Into Mr. Goldstein’s tones comes pity for such ignorance.
“Ven, on the Noo Yawk Central, does the last train go for Cleveland?” he repeats as though he scarcely can believe his ears. “Mine friendt, you should live so long!”
§ 246 Darkness Before the Dawn
A barn-storming troupe, specializing in Shakespearean repertoire, was fighting its difficult way through the middle west. For a month salaries had not been paid. One constable and two hotel-keepers were now traveling with the company, hoping to collect their claims.
On Tuesday morning of a certain week the leading man approached the manager.
“Let me have half a dollar, will you?” he said.
The manager gave him a hurt look.
“Say, what’s the matter with this gang, anyhow?” he demanded; “always wanting money. What do you think I am—a National bank, or something? It’s only yesterday that the heavy man kept nagging after me for two dollars. Said he wanted to get his laundry out. What does he need with laundry? Am I bothering about my laundry? No. Here I am working like a tiger to dig up railroad fares for you people and square up hotel-keepers and keep this show moving across the country until we run into some good territory. And now you come yelling for dough. What do you want with a half dollar, anyhow?”