Never at a loss for an answer the clerk proceeded to explain:
"Why should I expect any girl to stick to me and fourteen per when she
can have a place like this? Look at this swell furniture, these rugs,
and them ornaments--" Going, over to the mantelpiece, he picked up one
of the costly Peach Blow vases, examined it critically for a moment
and turned to the girls: "I suppose this is one of them
peach--peach--something or other--vases I've read about."
"Peach Blow," corrected Virginia.
"That's it," he grinned. "I suppose it's worth six or seven thousand
dollars--"
"Be careful!" exclaimed Virginia warningly, "or you'll drop it."
The words were hardly uttered when Jimmie's foot caught in the rug and
he stumbled, dropping the vase, which broke into two pieces.
Bewildered, horrified, he stood still, surveying with dismay the
fragments at his feet.
"Now you've done it!" he exclaimed hoarsely.
"I have?" exclaimed Virginia indignantly.
"Yes--I shouldn't have dropped it if you hadn't shouted at me."
Picking up the pieces, he tried to fit them together.
Fanny, frightened out of her wits, was speechless.
"I think we'd better go home!" she gasped.
Virginia alone remained cool.
"Don't be foolish," she said.
"Wait a bit! Wait a bit!" cried Jimmie; picking up the pieces and
putting them together. "Look here. How's that for luck? They fit
perfectly. No one will know the difference." Replacing the mended vase
where he had found it, he added: "We'll leave it just like that and
he'll think the Jap did it.
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