uts extra. Suppose you lose a nut, and your
pedal comes off; what you going to do--get a tow?

Barlow. Guess Perkins thinks this is like going to sleep.

Perkins. I don't know anything about it. What I'm after is
information; only, I give you warning, I will not ride so as to get
round shoulders.

Yardsley. Then where's your wrench? Screw up your bar, hoist your
handles, elevate your saddle, and you're O.K. What saddle have you?

Perkins (tapping it). This.

Barlow. Humph! Not very good--but we'll try it. Come on. It's
getting late.

[They go out. Perkins reluctantly. In a moment he returns alone,
and, rushing to Mrs. Perkins, kisses her affectionately.

Perkins. Good-bye, dearest.

Mrs. Perkins. Good-bye. Don't hurt yourself, Thaddeus. [Exit
Perkins.

Mrs. Perkins (leaving window and looking at clock on mantel). Ten
minutes past nine and Emma not here yet. It does seem too bad that
she should worry Ed so much just for independence' sake. I am quite
sure I should never want to ride a wheel anyhow, and even if I did--

Enter Yardsley hurriedly, with a piece of flannel in his hand.

Yardsley. I beg pardon, Mrs. Perkins, but have you a shawl-strap in
the house?

Mrs. Perkins (tragically). What is that you have in your hand, Mr.
Yardsley?

Yardsley (with a glance at the piece of flannel). That? Oh--ha-ha--
that--that's a--ah--a piece of flannel.

Mrs. Perkins (snatching the flannel from Yardsley's hand). But
Teddy--isn't that a piece of Teddy's--Teddy's shirt?

Yardsley. More than that, Mrs. Perkins. It's the greater part of
Teddy's shirt. That's why we want the shawl-strap. When we started
him off, you know, he took his coat off. Jack held on to the wheel,
and I took Teddy in the fulness of his shirt. One--two--three!
Teddy put on steam--Barlow let go--Teddy went off--I held on--this is
what remained. It ruined the shirt, but Teddy is safe. (Aside.)
Barring about sixty or seventy bruises.

Mrs. Perkins (with a faint smile). And the shawl-strap?

Yardsley. I want to fasten it around Teddy's waist, grab hold of the
handle, and so hold him up. He's all right, so don't you worry.
(Exit Mrs. Perkins in search of shawl-strap.) Guess I'd better not
say anything about the Pond's Extract he told me to bring--doesn't
need it, anyhow. Man's got to get used to leaving pieces of his
ankle-bone on the curb-stone if he wants to learn to ride a wheel.
Only worry her if I asked