Bill tossed all the chips within reach,
and then sat carelessly watching some men at work, and whistling
the "Dead March". Presently he asked:
"What's yer name, Balmy?"
No answer.
"Carn't yer answer a civil question? I'd soon knock the sulks out of yer
if I was yer father."
"My name's Arvie; you know that."
"Arvie what?"
"Arvie Aspinall."
Bill cocked his eye at the roof and thought a while and whistled;
then he said suddenly:
"Say, Balmy, where d'yer live?"
"Jones' Alley."
"What?"
"Jones' Alley."
A short, low whistle from Bill. "What house?"
"Number Eight."
"Garn! What yer giv'nus?"
"I'm telling the truth. What's there funny about it? What do I want
to tell you a lie for?"
"Why, we lived there once, Balmy. Old folks livin'?"
"Mother is; father's dead."
Bill scratched the back of his head, protruded his under lip, and reflected.
"I say, Arvie, what did yer father die of?"
"Heart disease. He dropped down dead at his work."
Long, low, intense whistle from Bill. He wrinkled his forehead
and stared up at the beams as if he expected to see something unusual there.
After a while he said, very impressively: "So did mine."
The coincidence hadn't done striking him yet; he wrestled with it
for nearly a minute longer. Then he said:
"I suppose yer mother goes out washin'?"
"Yes."
"'N' cleans offices?"
"Yes."
"So does mine. Any brothers 'n' sisters?"
"Two -- one brother 'n' one sister.
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