“Auxiliary,” explains Wick. “My wife is president. It is an a-ad—uh—”
“Adjunct,” prompts Magpie.
“I know it,” says Wick. “There’s my wife, who is president, and the followin’, to wit: Mrs. Wick Smith, Mrs. Pete Gonyer, Mrs. Yuma Yates, Mrs. Mighty Jones, and Miss Hilda Hansen. Of course the list is not complete, as it were, and we expect more. However, we have a quorum, et cettery, ad libitum.”
“I s’d hope sho,” says Dirty, gettin’ dignified. “What ’bout Mish Jasm’n Greenbaum? Ain’t she invited t’ j’in?”
“Miss Jasmine Greenbaum is actin’ in an advisory capacity,” explains Magpie. “It kinda makes her feel free to do as she wishes. We’re leavin’ a lot of it to her imagination.”
“What was Testament and Ricky and Mike doin’ up here?” asks Buck.
“Kinda gropin’ around,” says Magpie. “They heard that we was due to progress, and of course they had to come and see what it was about. I told ’em about Piperock acquirin’ a Chamber of Commerce and three jungle curiosities. They don’t sabe the idea of the Chamber, but they offers to take the animals at a slight advance over what Piperock paid.”
“What did you say?” asks Wick anxious-like.
“I told ’em to go to —. Them animals ain’t for sale.”
“Ain’t they?” asks Wick. “At more’n I paid? Magpie, I’d like to have the say-so over them critters myself. I own ’em, don’t I? They ain’t Piperock’s animals until Piperock has a bill-of-sale for ’em. I sure as — don’t thank yuh for what you’ve done to me.”