“No, that’s the new Second National Bank,” explained Mr. Birdseye between jolts. “The opera house is four doors further down—see, right there—just next to where that sign says ‘Tascott & Nutt, Hardware.’”
Simultaneously those who rode in front and atop must likewise have read the sign of Tascott & Nutt. For the bus, as though on signal, swerved to the curb before this establishment and stopped dead short, and in chorus a dozen strong voices called for Mr. Nutt, continuing to call until a plump, middle-aged gentleman in his shirt sleeves issued from the interior and crossed the sidewalk, surprise being writ large upon his face. When he had drawn near enough, sinewy hands stretched forth and pounced upon him, and as the bus resumed its journey he most unwillingly was dragged at an undignified dogtrot alongside a rear wheel while strange, tormenting questions were shouted down at him:
“Oh, Mr. Nutt, how’s your dear old coco?”
“And how’s your daughter Hazel?—charming girl, Hazel!”
“And your son, Philip Bertram? Don’t tell me the squirrels have been after that dear Phil Bert again!”
“You’ll be careful about the chipmunks this summer, won’t you, Mr. Nutt—for our sakes?”
“Old Man Nutt is a good old soul.”
[404]
But this last was part of a song, and not a question at all.
The victim wrested himself free at last and stood in the highroad speechless with indignation. Lack of breath was likewise a contributing factor. Mr. Birdseye observed, as they drew away from the panting figure, that the starting eyes of Mr. Nutt were fixed upon him recognisingly and accusingly, and realised that he was in some way being blamed for the discomfiture of that solid man and that he had made a sincere enemy for life. But what cared he? Meadow larks, golden breasted, sat in his short ribs and sang to his soul.
And now they had drawn up at the Hotel Balboa, and with Birdseye still in the van they had piled off and were swirling through the lobby to splash up against the bulkhead of the clerk’s desk, behind which, with a wide professional smile of hospitality on his lips, Head Clerk Ollie Bates awaited their coming and their pleasure.