Page:Firecrackers a realistic novel.pdf/75

 It takes a good act, Robin explained to Paul, to close the show and not have the customers walk out on you. Why, mother, he observed abruptly, there's peppers. I must feed Sophie Tucker. Impaling a pepper on a fork he carried it to a bird-cage which hung in a window. A canary fluttered to the bars. Robin held the pepper tantalizingly near to the beak of the bird, as he began to talk: Now, Sophie, d'ya want a pepper? Well, ask for it right. The fluttering canary began a prodigious twittering. Robin projected his lips until they touched the bars of the cage. Kiss me, Sophie, he begged. The bird flew back to her perch. Kiss me! Kiss me! he insisted. Returning, Sophie lightly pecked Robin's lips. There! Now you can have your pepper. Opening the door he dropped it into the cage.

We gotta work hard, Hugo remarked, as his brother returned to the table. We gotta practise every day for speed.

We oughter get more money for the act with three.

I don't want any salary, Gunnar cried out in dismay. I'm willing to go into this, but I refuse to accept payment.

Now see here, bo, Robin protested, you get one-third o' whatever we get. You're part o' the act from now on.

You work hard all day, said Hugo, and you been