Page:Paine--J Archibauld McKaney collector of whiskers.djvu/67

  next day received a note from Mr. Colby in which he said:

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence in me. I have had a very expensive musical education and I realize the importance of your undertaking. I promise on my honor to spare no pains to help Mr. Wilkins assemble the most harmonious collection of whiskers that ever sung together like the morning stars."

Mr. Colby was as good as his word. Three days later Wilkins found him waiting in the hotel lobby. With him were no fewer than a dozen mustached and bearded strangers. Most of them were fashionably dressed, although four or five of these recruits looked badly battered and seedy. Before Wilkins could shout a greeting, this admirable young Colby waved his bamboo cane as if it had been a baton, and his followers rose as one man, and bowed with great dignity. They were presented by their leader as "pretty near two full Octaves, shy one corking fine note, which got lost in the shuffle. He was a merry [49