Page:Digger Smith (C.J. Dennis, 1918).djvu/97

 "Then guess," she sez. Well, I'm a patient bloke, So I sits down an' starts to cut a smoke. (To play this game yeh've got to persevere.) "Couldn't," I sez, "if I guessed for a year"; Then lights me pipe, an' waits for 'er to speak. At last she sez, "Jim's comin' back next week!"

"Go on," sez I; an' puffs away awhile Quite unconcerned. But for to see 'er smile Was jist a treat: 'er eyes was shinin' bright, An' she'd grow'd ten years younger in a night. Jist 'ere, Doreen she sez to me, "Good Lor, Wot do yeh want two plugs uv 'baccer for?"

I takes me pipe out uv me mouth an' stares, An' stammers, "Must 'ave found a piece—somewheres." But, by the way she smiles—so extra sweet— I know she twigs me game, an' I am beat. "Fancy," she sez. "Yeh're absent-minded, dear. Sure there was nothin' else yeh wanted 'ere?"

"Nothin'," I sez, an' feels a first-prize fool; An' goes outside, an' grabs the nearest tool. It was the crosscut; so I works like mad To keep me self-respeck from goin' bad. "This game," I tells meself, "will do yeh good. You ain't proficient, yet, at sawin' wood."