"Me, too," said another.
"Aw, be patient. Jack's all right," argued one.
"Sho", echoed another.
"Yeh, dat' all right, 's fur it goes; but I'n handle mah money bet'n anybody else."
A heavy step sounded in the hallway, and presently a door opened into the room, admitting Jackson.
"All heah, boys, eh!" He said in a voice that revealed high spirits. "Good—what's this? Havin' a little game already? Say! Looks like y' might a-waited fo' old Jack, ha ha!"
"Well," he resumed after a general laughing, "Did eve' body vote straight?"
"Sho", they cried in chorus.
"N' how 'bout you, little breeches."
"Ke-heh! You say. 'Stamp ri' undah da' ole elephant's tail'; so when I got 'nside da' place wi one a dem ballets, 'n' all dem names ah did'n' know nothin' 'bout; but I 'memb'd what you say, so I jes' caught hole that li'l ole thing 'n' went, bim! ri' unda' da' ole elephant's tail, ya-ha!" The room, for a time, resounded with laughter.