and hated the whole human race.

"Well?" he snaps as he sees me edgin' in cautious.

"Papers for your O. K," says I, holdin' the bunch out at arm's length.

"My O. K.?" he snarls. "Bah! Now what the zebra-striped Zacharias do
they send those things to me for? What good am I, anyway, except as a
common carrier for all the blinkety blinked aches and pains that ever
existed? A shivery, shaky old lump of clay streaked with cussedness,
that's all I am!"

"Yes, Sir," says I, from force of habit.

"Eh?" says he, whirlin' and snappin' his jaws.

"N-n-no, Sir," says I, sidesteppin' behind a chair.

"That's right," says he. "Dodge and squirm as if I was a wild animal.
That's what they all do. What are you afraid of, Boy?"

"Me?" says I. "Why, I'm havin' the time of my life. I don't mind. It
only sounds natural and homelike. And it's mostly bluff, ain't it, Mr.
Ellins?"

"Discovered!" says he. "Ah, the merciless perspicacity of youth! But
don't tell the others. And put those papers on my desk."

"Yes, Sir," says I, and after I've spread 'em out I backs into the bay
window and sits down.