Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/48



FTER the crude hinds in the hole had brewed us the sour drink, Tib got disgusted with installing wheels of progress, and as we now had a modicum of the tainted he decided on a bit of the cosmopolitan. Almost before I knew it we had swapped dull placidity for the hysterical bleat and blare of Broadway. Only the change was so radical I nearly inconvenienced seven motormen by being run over before my patron could drag me aside and into the permanent office of a circus.

"‘Let's be independent bugs,' I begged, 'and shun skylarking in the empty places until the wallet is flat.'

"‘We'll just stop and say how d'ye do,' quieted the boss, grabbing me by the collar and encouraging me to enter.

"Then did I know the old lust had returned, increased tenfold by our late editorial experience, and that once again we were destined to supply foundations for the big parade.