THE FAT MAN--You could do that. But why Van Cortlandt? We've got much
better greens on our course. It's a beauty. Seven thousand yards long
and I've made it in fifty-four.
THE SICK MAN (_suspiciously_)--Did you hole out on every green or just
estimate?
THE FAT MAN (_stiffly_)--The score is duly attested. I might add that it
was possible because I drove more than four hundred yards on nine of the
eighteen holes.
THE SICK MAN--More than four hundred yards? How did you do that?
THE FAT MAN--It must have been the climate, or (_thoughtfully_) it may
be because I wanted so much to drive over four hundred yards on those
holes.
THE SICK MAN (_with just a shade of scorn_)--So that's the trick. I
guess nobody'd ever beat me on that course; I'd just want the ball in
the hole in one every time.
THE FAT MAN (in gentle reproof)--No, you wouldn't. Where you and I are
going pretty soon we're all true sportsmen and nobody there would take
an unfair advantage of an opponent.
THE SICK MAN--Before I go I want to know something. There's a fellow in
125th Street's been awful decent to me. Is there any coming back to see
people here? (_A pause_.)
THE FAT MAN--I can't explain to you yet, but it's difficult to arrange
that. Still, I wouldn't say that there never were any slumming parties
from beyond the grave.
THE SICK MAN (_shivering_)--The grave! I'd forgotten about that.
THE FAT MAN--Oh, you won't go there, and, what's more, you won't be at
the funeral, either. I wish I could keep away from them. I hate
funerals. They make me mad. You know, they say "Oh, Death, where is thy
sting?" just as if they had a pretty good hunch I had one around me some
place after all. And you know that other--"My friends, this is not a sad
occasion," but they don't mean it. They keep it sad. They simply won't
learn any better. I suppose they'd be a little surprised to know that
you were sitting watching Radbourne pitch to Ed. Delehanty with the
bases full and three balls and two strikes called. Two runs to win and
one to tie.
THE SICK MAN--Will Radbourne pitch?
THE FAT MAN--Sure thing.
THE SICK MAN--And, say, will Delehanty bust that ball?
THE FAT MAN--Make it even money and bet me either way.
THE SICK MAN--I don't want to wait any longer. Tell me that joke of
yours and let's go.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account