“Indeed?”
“Believe me. You’ve no notion how folks suffer in the first throes of that giddy pun. And then when it falls flat—naturally I can’t laugh like a fool at it any longer—blooie!” said Mr. Iff with expression—“like that—blooie!—they do feel so cheap. Wherefore I maintain I do humanity a service when I beat it to that moth-eaten joke. You follow me?”
Staff laughed.
“Then it’s all settled. Good! We shan’t be in one another’s way. You’ll see.”
“Unless you talk in your sleep, too.”
Mr. Iff looked unspeakable reproach. “You’ll soon get accustomed to me,” he said, brightening—“won’t mind my merry prattle any more ’n the song of a giddy humming-bird.”
He turned and saw their booking-clerks in patient waiting behind the counter. “Ah, there you are, eh? Well, it’s all settled....”
Thus was the thing accomplished.
And shortly thereafter these two paused in parting at the door.
“Going my way?” enquired Mr. Iff.