head cheese waiting to get cold."

"And what then, Sol?"

"Oh,--after while, I peep out and see Martha go up the road. Little
while more, all clear, I come out and have one more try.

"This time, first girl for sure, I say. Well--first girl happen to be
black buck-nigger Ebenezer Jones's coon kid, Dorothea. Dorothea she
dam-fine girl all right. She say, 'Hullo, Kid,--nice day!'

"I look away down the street to corner. I make her think I not see
her. I keep on going. She stand on sidewalk, one big fist on each hip
and she look after me and say, 'Wal,--I like dat!'"

"Dirty trick!" remarked Phil.

"What? Holy Yiminy!--that fair enough. You don't expect decent white
man ask nigger coon wench to marry him. I maybe not mention it to
myself when I make deal with myself, but no black nigger, no Chink or
Jap for Sol Hanson. I keep single first,--you bet!"

"Quite right!" switched Phil. "Keep the colour scheme right anyway,
Sol."

"Well--then white girl come along. 'By gosh!' I say.

"She Miss Gladys Tierney,--you know,--she work typewriter for
Commercial Bank.

"I raise my hat and say, 'Good morning, lady!'

"She look me up and down. 'Are you crazy?' she ask. 'You bet!' I say,
'been crazy for you, sweetheart.'

"She sniff and give me regular freeze-out; leave me standing dam-fool
foolish.

"Little while more, pretty fine Jane she come along. I see her
sometimes; but not know her name.

"Big,--uhm! Work in steam laundry. She wear her sleeves all rolled up;
walk very quick like she been going some place. She look good to me,
so I step up in front. I take off my hat.

"'How do you do, Jane!'

"She look at me and laugh. Half-smile, half laugh,--you know, Phil. I
guess, maybe, it all right. So I try, little bit more.

"'Very nice day, ma'am,' I say.

"'It is,' she say.

"'You look pretty nice!' I say next.

"'That's comforting!' she say next back, very quick.

"'This my birthday.' And I smile to her.

"'It is written all over you,' she answer.

"'You think I look pretty good to you, eh?' I ask.

"'Swell!' she say.

"'You think somebody like to marry me? I got dam-fine house, and
furniture, and Smiler.'

"'_Somebody_ might,' she say.

"Well, Phil,--I seem to be getting on pretty good, so I take the bull
by the tail and say right bang off the wrong side of the bat, 'You be
my wife?'

"'What?' she say, as if maybe she make a mistake in her ear-drums.

"'You marry me?' I ask again.

"She pull t