“Only a shirt and pajamas,” answered Tom, grinning sheepishly.
“You forget your reputation as a dignified gentleman,” interjected Emma.
“Where are your things, Chunky?” questioned Hippy, laughing immoderately.
Stacy eyed the column of water before replying. “I’ve got two shirts, a pair of ‘pants’ and a wad of handkerchiefs, some socks and a sombrero hat up there somewhere in the air. They ought to get well aired, eh?”
“There go Tom’s pajamas!” cried Elfreda. For a few seconds the pajamas were suspended in the air above the column of water. They were then joined by Tom’s shirt, and both garments suddenly disappeared. Next, Stacy Brown’s hat made its appearance. It, too, was as suddenly whisked out of sight. He hoped that his clothes might drop to safe ground where he could rescue them, but they did not. All the garments remained with the angry geyser, appearing only occasionally before the delighted gaze of those of the party not intimately interested in them.
“So, this is one of your little pleasantries, is it?” chided Grace, pulling Stacy’s ear.
“Ouch! I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do, Stacy Brown. As a precautionary measure, however, I believe that, were I in your place, I should keep the fact to myself. You know that husband of mine may not see the humor of the situation.”
“Do you think he suspects?” asked Stacy apprehensively.
“No, but he may. I know that Emma does.”