'What studio?'
'Gee! you're a bit shy on your English, ain't you? It makes it sort of
hard for a guy to keep up what you might call a flow of talk. Still,
you should worry. Why, don't you remember where you used to live before
you came to this joint? Big, dusty sort of place, where you and me used
to play around on the floor?'
The White Hope nodded.
'Well, wouldn't you like to do that again?'
'Yes.'
'And be a regular microbe?'
'Yes.'
Steve looked at his watch.
'Well, that's lucky,' he said. 'It happens to be exactly the right time
for starting out to be one. That's curious, ain't it?'
'Yes.'
'I've got a pal, friend, you know......'
'Is he a germ?'
'Sure. He's waiting for me now in an automobile in the park......'
'Why?'
'Because I asked him to. He owns a garage. Place where automobiles
live, you know. I asked him to bring out a car and wait around near by,
because I might be taking a pal of mine, that's you, for a ride into
the country to-night. Of course, you don't have to come if you don't
want to. Only it's mighty nice out there. You can spend all to-morrow
rolling about in the grass and listening to the birds. I shouldn't
wonder if we couldn't borrow a farmer's kid for you to play with.
There's lots of them around. He should show you the best time you've
had in months.'
William Bannister's eyes gleamed. The finer points of the scheme were
beginning to stand out before him with a growing clarity.
'Would I have to take my bib?' he asked excitedly.
Steve uttered a scornful laugh.
'No, sir! We don't wear bibs out there.'
As far as William Bannister was concerned, this appeared to settle it.
Of all the trials of his young life he hated most his bib.
'Let's go!'
Steve breathed a sigh of relief.
'Right, squire; we will,' he said. 'But I guess we had best leave a
letter for Mamie, so's she won't be wondering where you've got to.'
'Will Mamie be cross?'
'Not on your life. She'll be tickled to death.'
He scribbled a few lines on a piece of paper and left them on the cot,
from which William Bannister had now scrambled.
'Can you dress yourself?' asked Steve.
'Oh, yes.' It was an accomplishment of which the White Hope was
extremely proud.
'Well, go to it, then.'
'Steve.'
'Hello?'
'Won't it be a surprise for Mamie?'
