"What?"
"That was a woman."
"A woman of the world, Turkey."
They left the carriage at the stable, and strolled up to the jigger-shop, joining the group, all intent on the coming baseball season; and gradually the agony eased a bit. Presently a familiar little figure, freckled and towheaded, sidled into the shop, and stood with fists jammed in empty pockets, sniffing the air for succour.
"Oh, you Beauty! oh, you astonishing Venus!" cried the inevitable persecutor. Then from the crowd Macnooder began to intone the familiar lines:
"His hair, it is a faded white,
His eye a watery blue;
He has no buttons on his coat,
No shoe-strings in his shoe."
"Doc," said the Beauty, blushing sheepishly, "set me up to a jigger, will you? Go on, now!"
Then Macnooder, roaring, shouted back: "Not this year; next year—Sister!"