The Mermaid of Druid Lake, and Other StoriesBump, Charles Weathers
Science
The Mermaid of Druid Lake, and Other Stories
Bump, Charles Weathers
Fiction; Short stories
SHE--Well, I can't stand for it. I'll forgive you, though. Say, are you
going to see "Madam Butterfly"? You don't know? Well, I'm going tomorrow
night with Jack. He asked me today when I called him up about the other.
He has got seats in the second row. I'm going to put on all my best
regalia. No, not the blue. A pink chiffon. You've never seen it. It's a
beauty. Well, goodbye. See you Friday.
V.
(Ten Minutes Later.)
HE--Please give me Madison 6-4-8-6-y. Is this Mr. Smallwood's home? Is
Mr. Jack Smallwood there? No? Well, when do you expect him? You don't
know? Thank you. Curse the luck! Just when I thought it looked easy.
VI.
(9 A. M. Friday, October 26.)
HE--St. Paul 9-8-6-3. Hello! is Mr. Jack Smallwood in the office? Yes,
if you please. Jack, this is Carroll Vincent--no, no, Vincent. Say, old
man, saw you at Ford's last night. Fine-looking girl with
you--stunningly dressed--beautiful features--who is she?
JACK--Say, Carroll, what the devil is all this between you two who have
never met? I'm over seven, you know, and I've shed my sweet innocence.
HE--I don't know what you mean, old man.
JACK--Ah yes, you do! And if you don't come up to the Captain's office
and settle I'll blast your reputation with her forever. There's some
mystery in it all. First, Genevieve Pratt asks me about you. Then when I
saw you last night she twisted her neck so, to look at you, that I
thought I'd have to summon medical help. Now you call me up to talk
about her. What's the game? Put me wise.
HE--Fact is, old man, Miss Pratt and I are on the same line.
JACK--Same line? What kind of line?
HE--Same 'phone. Two-party line. Butt in on her the other night. Butt
out. Butt in again next night. Apologized eighteen times. Must meet her,
especially since she's such a smasher.
JACK--All right, Carroll boy. I'll fix it for you, now I understand.
HE--Make it soon, for Heaven's sake.
VII.
(Friday, November 2.)
HE--Give me Madison 7-9-3-1-m, please. No, no; I want the other party on
this line. Don't buzz that bell so loud in my ears. Hello! Is that Mr.
Pratt's? Oh! is this you, Miss Pratt? You're looking well this evening.
This is Carroll Vincent.
SHE--Feeling tiptop, thank you. Did you get wet in the rain last night?
HE--No; it stopped pouring almost as soon as we left your house.
SHE--I'm glad of that. I want to thank you for the chocolates you sent
this evening. You said you were going to send a book.
HE--I know I did. I tramped the town over to get that novel, but every
shop was out of it. Then I did not like you to think I had forgotten you
so soon, and I sent the bonbons.
SHE--It certainly was sweet of you. They're nearly all gone already.
HE--Mercy, mercy--don't make yourself sick! I wouldn't have you that
way.
SHE--You wouldn't have me any way, would you?
HE--Give me the chance. But I'm afraid you're a "jollier," Miss Pratt.
SHE--You're the first to tell me.
HE--Did you say "first" or "fiftieth"? There was a noise on the wire
just then.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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