"'Got!' You fellows are as blind as if you were locked up in the vault. 'Got!' Why, a baby, of course, Jim!"
Ted, with difficulty, repressed his emotions, reckoning, doubtless, on a more dramatic effect if my outburst should come unaccompanied. However, at the moment, the news struck me in quite other than a laughable light; and I must have disappointed Ted, for I only said:
"Well, it's mighty funny; but I'm sure we ought to be glad for poor old John."
Ted, who at heart is the kindest fellow in the world, instantly sobered.
"Glad, why, of course, I'm glad, Jim! But——"
"You'll be damn glad, then, at three o'clock this afternoon," broke in Bill, testily, seeing the turn the conversation was taking. "Yesterday he kept us here till after seven; last night he had a baby, and to-day—oh, Lord! Well, stay and talk about it if you want to; and make out to rejoice with him when he comes in. I'm going to work," and he walked off irritably to his desk in the other room.
Ted looked after him and smiled.
"He hasn't forgiven John for speaking to Habinger about him the other day." Habinger was the president.
"John was right," I said. "Bill had no business to meddle with his cash, even if John is slow in counting it."
"Yes," assented Ted; and then he laughed again, so openly and frankly this time, that the merely comic element in the news came over me irresistibly, and I could not help joining him.