| Banta, although ordinarily eloquent, had the misfortune of stuttering badly when excited. Once, when walking with his friend Santa down a crowded city street, he said with great excitement, "L-l-l-l-look at that g-g-g-girl. W-w-w-what a f-f-f-f-f-f-figure!" "Where? Where?" demanded Santa, equally excited, once Jones had managed to get his message across. "Too late," said Banta, quite calm. "She walked into a building." A moment later, he said, "L-l-l-l-look at that c-c-c-car. N-n-n-n- never saw s-s-s-s-s----" "Where? Where?" demanded Santa again. "Turned the corner," said Banta briefly. A few minutes passed and Banta began again, "L-l-l-l-l-look..." Santa, weary of having everything over before Banta could finish, said, "It's all right. I see, I see..." There was a brief pause and then Banta said, "If you saw it, why did you step in it?" |