“The idea? Hah!” He kinda swells up with importance. “I’m the president.”
I looks quick at Dirty, who is starin’ at Magpie with his mouth wide open. Then he looks at me and shakes his head.
“Ike,” says he hoarse-like, “I knowed it. By —, the human brain can jist stand so much. He’s been feeblin’ up in the head for a long time. I’ve seen it comin’ on by degrees, and I ain’t a mite surprized. There ain’t nothin’ yuh can do, except to hopple ’em so they can’t hurt nobody.”
Magpie looks at Dirty kinda funny and Dirty edges toward the door.
“Better git a rope, Ike,” advises Dirty, backin’ agin’ the door. “Them high-minded first symptoms is apt to degenerate into vi’lence, and we don’t want him to hurt nobody.”
“Set down, you — fool,” says Magpie. “I ain’t crazy.”
“Proves it on himself,” declares Dirty nervous-like. “They all swear they ain’t. Look out for his first rush, Ike.”
But I holds firm. To me he’s always been crazy so I ain’t scared of an extra degree.
“Democrat or Republican president?” I asks. “We didn’t git back in time for the convention, you remember.”
“Don’t try to be smart, Ike,” says he. “I plumb forgot that you fellers has been away. Since you was here, Piperock has advanced by leaps and bounds. Right now I am writin’ a biography of our fair city for all to read and appreciate how we have advanced. It is marvelous.”