"William mumbled somethin' about green not bein' a joyful color,
but he went and did as I told him.

"That stuff smelt of perpemint, fearful. It was a young ladies'
bevridge if ever I hit one. We sot opposite each other, filled a
tumbler apiece, says, 'Here's how,' and waited. We waited quite
some time.

"'Ezekiel, do you notice anythin'?' says William. Well, to tell
the truth, I hadn't; yet it might only been fancy, so I says,
'Seems to me I _do_, William--nothin' vi'lent, nor musical, nor
humorous--but a kind of a tranquil, preliminary,
what-you-might-call-indication of somethin' to follow.'

"'Huh,' says William, 'let's try another.

"We was careful to load to the brim this time. After five minutes
I says, 'Are you sure you don't notice nothin,' William?' I
observed a risin' color in his face.

"'U-m-m--y-a-as,' says he most sarcastical; 'I notice somethin',
Ezekiel--a strong smell of peppermint--not escaped you, perhaps?
Well, there's just one more swig of green paint goin' to force
itself into the midst of William Pemberton, and if there ain't more
to show for it than the present odor and a sensation 'sif I'd been
turned inside out and exposed to the wintry blasts you'll hear from
me, Ezekiel. I've stood,' says William, 'about all I'm prepared to
stand. The next act will be for me to proceed to get a move on.'

"Knowin' what a powerful disposition he had I most sincerely hoped