I’dleftitontheseat。Ha！ha！ha！“
Helaugheduproariously。Ellerylaughedinsympathy。
“However，Iwa’n’tworryin’abouthats，justthen。AllIwantedtodowasstandstill，likeafrozenimage，andstareather。Yousee，John，Ihadn’tlaideyesonafriend，oneoftherealhomemadekind，formoredaysthanIwantedtocount；andherewasoneof’em，oneofthebest，passedouttomeunexpectedandaheadoftime，likeasurprisepartypresent。SoIjustpumpedherhandupanddownandstared。Ididn’thaveanyexclusivemortgageonthestarin’bynomeans，forthedepotmasterandadozenorsoloaferswaslookin’atuswiththeirmouthswideopen。
“Iguessshenoticedit，forshesays，’Don’tstayhere，Nat。Comeinthewaitin’roomorsomewhereswherewecantalk。’
“Sointothewaitin’roomwewentandcometoanchoronthesettee。