It's too exasperating."
"Oh, I meant for nothing!"
"Then it's a present--and there's always a string to your
presents."
"Isn't there to everybody's?"
"Besides, it's an air-cooled motor," I said, not wanting to
appear too eager. "Don't they always overheat in time and stick
the pistons?"
"Not the Lafayette!"
"Don't tempt me," I said. "You know I couldn't take it on any
terms."
"Forced feed lubrication and direct drive on the fourth speed," he
continued, like a stage villain offering diamonds to the heroine.
"What kind of a string?"
"Oh, Virgie, it was all a lie about Josie Felton."
"I had it straight from Mrs. Gettridge and she's Josie's aunt and
she ought to know, I guess."
"Mrs. Gettridge is a social assassinator belongs to a regular
Mafia of mischief-makers and old cats--you know you used to care
once."
"Oh, I did, Morty, I did. It nearly broke my heart, and I just
wanted to throw myself away--become a trained nurse or go in for
settlement work!"
"Couldn't it ever be as it used to be?"
"I should want all the bushings of phosphor bronze."
"They are that already--and it's patent-lock nutted throughout,
and the engine is that new kind that interlocks.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72