They're all alike, I tell you, Miss Mae. The best way to handle 'em is
to leave 'em alone."

"How he's been falling off. Loo, all--"

"'Sh-h-h, now, Miss Mae, don't begin getting excited--all last night
while I was rubbing your head that's what you kept mumbling and mumbling
even after you fell asleep. That--don't help none."

"All last month so irregular and now only once last week, and--and not
at all this week. Good heavens! I just wonder, I--just wonder."

"Now, just whatta you bet he'll be up to supper to-night, Miss Mae? If
I was you, dearie, I wouldn't be scared, I'd just go right to the
telephone and--"

"He gets so sore, Loo. You remember that time I telephoned him about
that case of wine he sent up and it came busted, and his mother--his old
woman was in the office. He raises hell if I try to telephone him during
business."

"Just the same, I got a hunch he'll be up to supper to-night, and when I
get a hunch things happen."

"It's his old woman, I tell you. It's his old woman is sniffing things
again. Say, if he'd ever let me clap eyes on that old hag, wouldn't I
learn her how to keep her nose out of his business alrighty. Wouldn't I
just learn her! God! my head!"

"Lay down on the sofa, dearie, and rest up your red eyes. Take my tip
he'll be up to supper to-night. I'm going to order him a double sirloin
and a can of them imported--"

"Ugh! For Pete's sake cut it, Loo! If anybody mentions bill of fare to
me I'll yell. Take them empty bottles out of here, Loo, and choke that
damn clock with another pillow. My head'll just bust if I don't get some
sleep."

"There, there, dearie! Here, lemme pull down the shades. Just try to
remember there ain't one of them is worth more than his bank-book. I
ain't going down to the dance with Sharkey to-night; I'm going to stay
right here and--"

"No, no, Loo. You go. You can have that blue silk waist I promised you
and wear them red satin roses he--he brought me that time from Hot
Springs. Wear 'em, but be careful of 'em."

"Aw, Miss Mae, with you here like a wet rag, and if he comes who'll
fix--"

"He--he ain't coming, Loo, and if he does I'm the one he likes to fix
his things, anyway. I wanna be alone, Loo. I--I just wanna be alone."

"That's just it, Miss Mae, you're too much alone; you--"

"For Pete's sake, Loo, cut it or I'll holler. Cut the conversation,
dearie!"

"I'll fix the candied sweet-potatoes this morning, anyway, Miss Mae, so
if he does come