“What!!” and Simpkins was all colors on throat and brow as Branton Hills’ Council stood, grinning. But that baby chin was straining up, and a pair of baby arms was pulling, oh, so hard; and, in a sort of coma, big, pompous, grouchy Councilman Simpkins took that hanging ribbon! A band struck up a quick march, and round and round trod that happy, singing ring, with Old Bill looming up as big as a mountain amongst its foothills! Laugh? I thought His Honor would burst!
As that ribbon spiral got wound, Simpkins, coming back, said, with a growl:—
“I was afraid I would tramp on a kid or two in that silly stunt.”
“It wasn’t silly, Bill,” said Gadsby. “It was grand!” And Tony Bandamita sang out:—
“Gooda work, Councilmanna! My four bambinos walka right in fronta you, and twista ribbons!”
Simpkins, though, would only snort, and pass on.
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