Mamise had Jake and Abbie in to dinner that night. She was all agog about the success of Clara, and hoped that Mamise would one day do as well.
Jake took a sudden interest in the matter. “Did the boss tell you where the Clara was goin’ to?”
“Yes––Norfolk.”
Jake considered his unmentionable cigar a few minutes, then rose and mumbled:
“Goin’ out to get some more cigars.”
Abbie called after him, “Hay, you got a whole half-box left.” But Jake did not seem to hear the recall.
He came back later cigarless and asked for the box.
“I thought you went out to git some,” said Abbie, who felt it necessary to let no occasion slip for reminding him of some blunder he had made. Jake laughed very amiably.
“Well, so I did, and I went into a cigar-store, at that. But I hadda telephone a certain party, long-distance––and I forgot.”
Abbie broke in, “Who you got to long-distance to?”