Anyhow, you don't have to bust no records to beat this
cook. He ain't so fast."
"It would sure be a kind-hearted act if you'd do it for us," said
the little man in his high, boyish voice. It was a shock to
discover that he spoke in a dialect. "There's a heap of sentiment
connected with this affair. You see, outside of being a prize
that we won at considerable risk, there goes with this phonograph
a set of records, among which we all have our special favorites.
Have you ever heard Madam-o-sella Melby sing _The Holy
City_?"
"I didn't know she sang it," said Speed.
"Take it from me, she did, and you've missed a heap."
"You bet," Stover agreed, in a hushed, awed tone.
"Well, you must have heard Missus Heleney Moray in _The Baggage
Coach Ahead_?" queried the scholarly little man. At mention of
his beloved classic, Carara, the Mexican, murmured, softly:
"Ah! _The Baggage Car_--Te'adora Mora! God bless 'er!"
"I must confess I've never had the pleasure," said Speed,
whereupon the speaker regarded him pityingly, and Stover, jealous
that so much of the conversation had escaped him, inquired:
"Can it be that you never heard that monologue, _Silas on Fifth
Avenoo_?"
Again Speed shook his head.
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