The man in black sauntered out. In an enormous mounting atop the outhouse appeared a three-foot church bell.
Its chain yanked down.
Bong-g-g—bong-g-g—bong-g-g....
The young man hurried across the yard, shoulders stiff. So quickly that the man in black, eyes mocking, was forced to stand aside at the very door of the outhouse to permit him to enter.
The church bell and mounting vanished. With a clap of indignant thunder.
The man in black resumed his chair on the porch. The young man came slowly back across the yard and sat on the steps.
After a few minutes the young man said, "That wasn't very funny."
"I hardly expected you to think so."
"This can go on for an awfully long time you know."
"I have," said the man in black, "an awfully long time. So do you."