Marjorie had already drawn a cup of hot tea, and Spoof drank it while he stood.
"Ah, that's better," said he, as she took the empty cup from his hand. "Wonderful how a cup of tea bucks a fellow up, isn't it? Now I must get along. Fancy old Jake on his back under the stove holding that nut in place with his fingers!"
"Or with Bella Donna's curling tongs," Jack suggested. "Burke will fix you all right," and we waved him away.
It was one of those grey winter days, and he faded out of sight in a few moments. I noticed that Jean's eyes followed Spoof until the mist had engulfed him. Then she turned quickly to Jack and me.
"If there is any danger, don't you think you should go over to Jake's at once?" she said.
"Not a chance," her brother assured her. "But I'd give a dollar to be at Burke's."
"At Burke's? Why?"
"Because, little Miss Innocence, of two facts. First, there is no such thing as a cogitation nut, and second, there is no such thing as a left-hand monkey wrench."
"But Jake came for it—he told Spoof——"
"Exactly. That's why he told him."