'--workin' here
at nights? Don't mind him," he tells I. Markowitz, who ain't. "Hurry
up with that receipt!"

"How is the motor?" I asks that brigand. "Tell me that, will you?"

"Convalescent!" he sneers, tuckin' the Kid's bankroll away.

"Some motor, eh?" pipes the Kid. "And it's got a one-man top on it
besides, ain't it?" he asks I. Markowitz.

"Why not?" says he. "Everything new and up to date you would find on
this car which only yesterday I could have sold to a feller for a
thousand dollars!"

After pullin' that, he walks over to the thing and climbs in the back.
"An example!" he says. "If you're alone in the car and there's nobody
with you, you only should stand up on the seat and pull up the top like
this, if it comes up a rain. Then you--"

I didn't hear the rest on account of him havin' trouble makin' his
voice travel from under the seat, because he reached up and pulled
somethin' here and jerked somethin' there--and that one-man top made
good! I thought at first the ceilin' of the joint had fell in, and
I'll bet I. Markowitz _knowed_ it had, but then I seen it was only the
thing that keeps the rain out of the car. Me and the Kid drags him
out, and as soon as he gets on his feet and felt to see if he had his
watch and so forth, he wipes the dirt out of his eyes and turns on me.

"It's a wonder I ain't now dead on account from you?" he snarls. "I
suppose you're one of them wise fellers from New Jersey, which they got
to be showed everything, heh?"

"Missouri!" I says. "Not New Jersey. If I was from New Jersey, I
would probably be fightin' with the Kid to let _me_ buy the car!"

"It's got a self-commencer on it, too!" yelps the Kid, climbin' into
the front seat. "See--lookit!" He presses a button with his foot and
a laughin' hyena or somethin' in the hood moans a couple of times and
then passes away.

"The first time I wouldn't be surprised you should have to crank it,"
says I. Markowitz. "The motor has been standin' so long--I mean--that
is--speakin' of motors, I think that one is maybe a little cold! Once
she gets runnin' everything will be A number one!"

I goes around the front of the thing and stoops down.

"Put her on battery, if there's any on there," I calls to the Kid, "and
I'll spin the motor!"

I. Markowitz steps over and lays his hand on my arm. His face is as
serious as prohibition.

"Its only fair I should tell you," he whispers, "that she kicks a
little!"

I give