Page:Paine--J Archibauld McKaney collector of whiskers.djvu/41



I grasped the hard fist of my guest and said with deep feeling:

"You shall not roll and go from this house as long as it suits you to stay. There is a man behind that peerless Titian beard, and I owe you more than I can ever repay."

"My whiskers is my fortune, sir," cheerily replied Mr. Wilkins, "and they are yours to command, even if you want to dye em bottle-green. And here is the last ruby of the lot, sir, all safe and sound. I had to go deep into the underbrush to dig it out."

"I am in need of a faithful assistant," I told the honest fellow with a chuckle, "and I am inclined to dub you 'The Hair Apparent.'" [23