“I can’t rightly say, Sir,” sighed Spezzle. “This disappearing has me that mixed up I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Well, don’t start by losing your head,” chuckled Kabumpo. “There—that will do very well.” He lifted the little man down from the ladder.
“Good-bye, Spezzle. If you should disappear before I should see you again, try to do it in style.”
“Yes, Sir!” gulped Spezzle. Then taking out a bright red handkerchief he blew his nose violently and rushed out of the room.
Kabumpo walked up and down before the mirror, surveying himself from all angles. A very gorgeous appearance he presented, in his purple plush robe of state, all embroidered in silver, and his head bands of shining pearls. In the left side of his robe there was a deep pocket. Into this the Elegant Elephant slipped all the jewels he possessed, taking them from a drawer in the chest.
“I must get that gold door knob,” he rumbled thoughtfully. “And the mirror.” Noiselessly (for all his tremendous size, Kabumpo could move without a sound) he made his way back to the banquet hall and loomed up suddenly behind the Prime Pumper. The old fellow was staring with popping eyes into the gold mirror.
“Ho, Ho!” roared Kabumpo. “Ho, Ho! Kerumph!”
No wonder! Above the shocked reflection of the foolish statesman stood the words “Old Goose!”
“A truthful mirror, indeed,” wheezed the Elegant Elephant.
“Heh? What?” stuttered the Prime Pumper, slapping the mirror down on the table in a hurry. “Where’d you come from? What are you all dressed up for?”