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Stuyvesant had bethought him of the semi-somnolent occupants of the opposite section, and some cabalistic signs he ventured with a little silver cup summoned them in pleased surprise to the water-cooler at the rear end, where he regaled them with a good story and the best of V. O. P. Scotch, and accepted their lavish bid to sit with them awhile.
With the script under his arm he staggers to the manager's office. The manager reads the script smiles chuckles thoroughly enjoys it. Then a cloud passes athwart his brow. "There's only one thing the matter with this piece," he says. "You seem to have written it to star a comedian." "But you said you wanted it for Jasper Cutup," gasps the author, supporting himself against the water-cooler.
He spun about toward the office water-cooler. But only to utter an exclamation of disappointment. This cooler was of tin of course useless for such a purpose. Hurriedly he began casting about for a substitute. "Billy, think of something we can make a big battery jar of!" he cried. "To strengthen the wire!" "A battery? But what would we do for bluestone? I used the last yesterday!"
"I love you too, Dinah," said Flossie, patting the black hand that had done many kind acts for the twins. "But I do want a drink, and you know you would look funny if you upset here in the car." "Yes, I spects I would, chile," laughed Dinah. "May I get Flossie a drink?" asked Freddie. "You may both go down to the end of the car where the water-cooler is," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
The customs were simple: Certain hours for arrival, for lunch, for leaving; women's retiring-room embarrassedly discovered to be on the right behind the big safe; water-cooler in the center of the stenographers' room. But the office prejudices, the taboos, could not be guessed. They offered you every possible chance of "queering yourself."
He walked up to the water-cooler that stood in the corner, and drew himself a full goblet from it, which he poured down his throat with a backward tilt of his head, and then went wearily within doors. The whole affair, so simple, has always remained one of a certain pathos in my memory, and I would rather have seen Lincoln in that unconscious moment than on some statelier occasion.
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