His bill had not been paid, and he came at once. When informed of the difficulty, he seized the pump-handle with amusing alacrity, but a few strokes changed his confidence to doubt. When he paused, the same appalling sigh that had greeted me announced a similar result, and I smiled amid my misery to see his manner change as he recommenced. After two or three attempts, he stopped suddenly and inquired,
He was not going to get off by any subterfuge if I could help it, so I answered promptly,
“Never mind that; the well is deep enough.”
“But what is the depth? It is essential to know.”
“Don’t worry yourself about that now; fix your pump first,” was the ready response.
“I can not do so till I know the depth of the well.”
“Well, then, if you are so anxious to be informed, it is forty-five feet deep—deep enough, in all conscience.”
“That is the trouble, of course; the pump won’t suck.”
“Of course it is, that is plain enough; and I expect you to give me one that will suck.”