"Not in the least," says he. "I suppose, though, you would like a chance to waste some of the company's time on the street?"
"Me?" says I. "Why, I'd hate it. I was only afraid I'd have to go, with all this inside work to be done."
"Humph!" says he. "You needn't fear. I shall see that nothing of the sort happens."
"Ah, you're a bird, you are!" says I.
"Perhaps," says Piddie.
"Then climb a tree and twitter," says I; for it made me grouchy to think I'd let a bonehead like him get a rise out of me.
The more I chewed it over, though, the stronger I was for breakin' loose about dockin' time. Maybe I didn't want to go to the pier; but if he was bent on throwin' the gate on me, that was another proposition. I got sorer and sorer and I was on the point of chuckin' the job at Piddie's head and walkin' out on my own hook, when who should come stormin' in, scowlin' and grumblin' to himself, but Mr. Robert. And he had a worse attack than I did.
"Torchy," says he, wheelin' around halfway to his office, "ring up Pier Umpty-nine and find out when that blasted steamer is due."
"The Kaiser boat?" says I. "She'll dock about two-forty-five."
"Eh?" says he, some startled. "Now, how the——Never mind, though. Sure about the time, are you?"