Part 13 (1/2)

”Beat it! This ain't any dream carnival you're hired for!”

”What number?” says the bone thumper.

For about two shakes I was up against it, and then the only place I could think of was Benny's house; so I give him that, and off we goes.

”But I say, young man,” says Brother Bill, ”I came on to go to the wedding.”

”Sure,” says I; ”that'll be all right too. Didn't I tell you there was some word left for you?”

”Yes,” says he, ”I believe you did. Also you said something about her waiting----”

”Right again,” says I. ”She'll be tickled to death to see you too.”

”Yes; but the wedding?” says he.

”That'll be there when we get back--maybe,” says I. ”You came on kind of unexpected, eh?”

”Yes,” says he. ”I didn't think I could get away at first; but I managed it.”

”How'd you get out?” says I. ”Was it a clean quit, or a little vacation?”

”Why--er--why,” says he,--”yes, it was a--er--little vacation, as you say.”

”Chee!” thinks I. ”The nerve of him! Wonder if he sawed the bars, or sneaked out in a packin' case?” But, say, I couldn't put it to him straight. When I gets these bashful fits on I ain't any use.

”How long you been in?” says I.

”In?” says he. ”Oh, I see! About five years.”

”Honest?” says I.

Then I had another modest spell that won't let me ask him whether he'd been put away for givin' rebates, or grabbin' for graft. I knew it must have been somethin' respectable like that. Anyone could see he wa'n't one of your strong arms or till friskers.

I was just wis.h.i.+n' I knew how to work the force pump like Aunt Laura, when we pulls up at the horse block, and it was up to me to think of some new move.

”She's here, is she?” says Mr. William.

”You bet!” says I, wondering who he thought I meant. And then I gets that funny feelin' I gen'rally has when I takes the high jump. ”Come on,” says I. ”We'll give her a surprise.”

It wa'n't anything else. I knew she'd be to home, 'cause I'd heard she was too grouchy to go to the weddin' or have anything to do with it; so when Marie let us in I throws a tall bluff and says for her to tell Aunt Laura I've brought some one she wants to see very partic'lar.

”Why,” says Mr. Morgan, ”there's been some mistake, hasn't there! I know no such person. Why should she wish to see me?”

”Sh-h-h-h!” says I. ”Maybe she'll feed you frosted cake. It's one of her tricks.”

She didn't, though. She looked about as smilin' as a dill pickle when she showed up, and she opened the ball by askin' what I meant, bringin'

strangers there.

”Well,” says I, ”you've been askin' a lot about him lately; so I thought I'd lug him around. This is Brother Bill.”