guest--Bag
Ears--"

"Oh, of course."

Safely hidden behind a bank of tropical grass, I took Joy in my arms and
kissed her. Bag Ears obligingly looked in the other direction. But Joy
didn't quite get her heart into it. She seemed preoccupied--I might
almost say, bewildered.

"Bag Ears," she whispered to no one in particular, "and what did you say
the lady's name was? Oh--I remember--Red Nose Tessie." She pondered for
a moment and then smiled up at me dreamily. "Darling--I never realized
what a versatile person you are--"

Bag Ears perked up. "Verseetile? You ain't just a hootin', babe. And
_tough_. You should see his right."

I strove to quiet him down. "Never mind, Bag Ears--"

But Joy evinced great interest. "Tell me--"

"Babe--the kid could be the next heavyweight champ in a breeze. I mind
me one night a monkey comes into the tavern rodded--"

Joy held up a hand. "Just a moment. I don't like to appear stupid,
but--"

"A moke wid a heater--a goon wid a gat."

"Oh--you mean a man with a gun."

"Sure--that's what I said. Anyhow, this droolie makes a crack about
Tessie's beak--"

"An insult relative to her nose?"

"Sure--sure. And Tessie's hot to kiss him wid a bottle when he pulls the
iron."

"Imagine that," Joy said, and I felt a slight shiver go through her
body.

"Then Homer here, gets off his stool and says very polite-like, 'That
remark, sir, was in bad taste and entirely uncalled-for. I believe an
apology is in order.' And the monkey standing there with the gat in his
mitt. What Homer meant was the jerk'd cracked out o' turn and to eat his
words fast."

"I gathered that was what he meant."

"But the screwball raises the hardware and--wham--Homer hits him. What a
sock! The goon back-pedals across the room and into a cardboard wall
next to the door marked 'ladies'. He busts right through the wall and
lands in a frail's lap inside who's--"

"Powdering her nose?"

"That's right! What a sock!"

* * * * *

Joy's eyes were upon mine.

"Darling! I didn't have the least idea. Why, it's going to be wonderful!
Never a dull moment!"

I kissed my bride, after which she said, "I think I could do with a
drink, sweetheart."

"Your wish is my command."

I got up and started toward the liquor supply inside the house. Joy's
soft call stopped me.

"What is it, angel?" I inquired.

"Not just a drink, sweet. Bring the bottle."

I went into the kitchen and got a bo