The Prince and BettyWodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
General
The Prince and Betty
Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
Humorous stories
Certainly there was magnetism about Mr. Jarvis. With a minimum of words
he produced remarkable results. Something seemed to happen suddenly to
Signor Fontelli's spine. He wilted like a tired flower. A gesture, in
which were blended resignation, humility, and a desire to be at peace
with all men, particularly Mr. Jarvis, completed his capitulation.
Mr. Jarvis waited while Betty was instructed in her simple duties, then
drew her aside.
"Say," he remarked confidentially, "youse'll be all right here. Six per
ain't all de dough dere is in de woild, but, bein' cashier, see, you
can swipe a whole heap more whenever you feel like it. And if Tony
registers a kick, I'll come around and talk to him--see? Dat's right.
Good-morning, loidy."
And, having delivered these admirable hints to young cashiers in a
hurry to get rich, Mr. Jarvis ducked his head in a species of bow,
declined to be thanked, and shuffled out into the street, leaving Betty
to open her new career by taking thirty-seven cents from the late
breakfaster.
CHAPTER XXI
CHANGES IN THE STAFF
Three days had elapsed since the battle which had opened the campaign,
and there had been no further movement on the part of the enemy. Smith
was puzzled. A strange quiet seemed to be brooding over the other camp.
He could not believe that a single defeat had crushed the foe, but it
was hard to think of any other explanation.
It was Pugsy Maloney who, on the fourth morning, brought to the office
the inner history of the truce. His version was brief and unadorned, as
was the way with his narratives. Such things as first causes and
piquant details he avoided, as tending to prolong the telling
excessively, thus keeping him from the perusal of his cowboy stories.
He gave the thing out merely as an item of general interest, a bubble
on the surface of the life of a great city. He did not know how nearly
interested were his employers in any matter touching that gang which is
known as the Three Points.
Pugsy said: "Dere's been fuss'n going on down where I live. Dude
Dawson's mad at Spider Reilly, and now de Table Hills is layin' for de
T'ree Points, to soak it to 'em. Dat's right."
He then retired to his outer fastness, yielding further details jerkily
and with the distrait air of one whose mind is elsewhere.
Skilfully extracted and pieced together, these details formed
themselves into the following typical narrative of East Side life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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