Page:Harvey O'Higgins--Silent Sam and other stories.djvu/302

290 that should have been filled with an ovation to the hero, the paper wizard bowed himself off. The imperishable glory of the flower of the navy had already faded in the hearts of his countrymen, and Madame Carlotta recognized that the wizard's climax, like everything else in the Musée, was a foredoomed failure.

If the Musée closed—

"Ladiesangelmn," a new voice piped up, "alludin' to these prize packages w'ich I 'm givin' away this ev'nin', I want 'a say each an' ev'ry package consists in the best cough drops, dew drops, lem'nade drops, an' bunbuns made 'r manafactered, war'nted a cure fer all such as coughs, col's, warts, an' toot' aches, an' if any o' youse—"

It was Redney. In defiance of the Professor's orders and the rules of the Musée, he was crying his wares. She watched him from the door of the tent, her fingers at her mouth. He was holding aloft a sample package.

"—has such as coughs, col's, warts, an' toot' aches, I 'd advise him to try one at onct. One fer you?"

The Professor had shouldered his way through the little crowd to him. Redney offered him a package impudently. "In each an' ev'ry package the ladies 'at wraps up these packages—Fi' cents. That 's all. Marked down from ten. Don' want it? Well, run away an' play. I 'm busy."

The Professor had reached a hand out at him, to grip his coat. Redney struck it aside. "Cut it out," he snarled, "er I 'll—"