A Person who might have been
Professor of Bee-Culture in the Pike County Agricultural Seminary, so
far as make-up was concerned, took the Man by the Hand and informed
him that he (the Man) was a Prominent Citizen and that being the case
he would be given a Reduction on the Half-Morocco Edition. While doing
his 150 Words a Minute, he worked a Kellar Trick and produced a large
Prospectus from under his Coat. Before the Busy Man could grab a
Spindle and defend himself, he was looking at a half-tone Photo of
Aristotle and listening to all the different Reasons why the Work
should be in every Gentleman's Library. Then the Agent whispered the
Inside Price to him so that the Stenographer would not hear and began
to fill out a Blank. The Man summoned all his Strength and made a
Buck.
"I don't read Books," he said. "I am an Intellectual Nit. Clear Out!"
So the Agent gave him a couple of pitying Looks and departed, meeting
in the Doorway a pop-eyed Person with his Hat on the Back of his Head
and a Roll of Blue Prints under his Arm. The Man looked up and moaned.
He recognized his Visitor as a most dangerous Monomaniac--the one who
is building a House and wants to show the Plans.
"I've got everything figured out," he began, "except that we can't get
from the Dining Room to the Library without going through the Laundry
and there's no Flue connecting with the Kitchen. What do you think I'd
better do?"
"I think you ought to live at a Hotel," was the reply.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44