For a minute they stood there, Mother and Sonny boy, gazin' into each other's eyes without sayin' a word; and then--well, we turns our backs as they goes to a clinch and Mother turns on the sprinkler.
But J. Bayard's programme for helpin' Royce break into the younger set is bugged for fair. Instead we've dug up an expert in rubber farmin' and are preparin' to send him down as first assistant to the classiest plantation manager that ever started for Honduras. Mrs. Hammond announces that she's goin' too.
"There's good stuff in that young chap," says J. Bayard. "He isn't the son of Hungry Jim for nothing. I'll bet he wins out!"
"Win or lose," says I, "he's ducked bein' a parlor rat for life, which is something."
I'd heard the front office door pushed open and listened to a couple of heavy steps on the floor runner before I glances round to find this high party with the wide, stooped shoulders and the rugged face standin' there beamin' at me genial and folksy. In one hand he has a green cloth bag with somethin' square in it, and in the other he has a broad-brimmed soft hat about the color of Camembert cheese. A tank station delegate and no mistake!
"The Horse Dealers' Exchange is over east of Fourth avenue, about eight blocks down," says I.
He chuckles good-natured and shakes his head. "You got two more comin' to you, Brother," says he.
"Is it sawmill machinery you're lookin' for, then," says I, "or the home office of Marriage Bells?"
"Struck out!" says he. "Now it's my bat. Are you J. Bayard Steele, Mister?"
"Then I reckon you're the other one--Professor McCabe," says he.
"Line hit over center field!" says I. "What's the follow up to that?"
"No hurry," says he. "Have a button first."
"Eh?" says I, gawpin', as he tosses the green bag and yellow lid onto a chair, dives into his side pocket, and proceeds to pin something on my coat lapel.
"Plenty of 'em," says he. "Here, take some for your friends. How's that for a slogan, anyway? 'Go to Gopher!' Good advice too. Gopher's the garden spot of the universe."
"Why," says he, "Gopher, U.S.A. That's the idea! I'm from there. Hubbs is the name,--Nelson Hubbs, secretary of the Gopher Board of Trade,--and I never miss a chance to give Gopher a boost."