"I had provided it to be used in an emergency," he replied. "I
think the time has come sooner than I anticipated."
I watched him curiously, wondering what it would be that would
come next.
There followed a most amazing series of groanings and mutterings
from Garrick. I could not imagine what he was up to. The whole
proceeding seemed so insane that, for the moment, it left me
nonplussed and speechless.
Garrick caught the puzzled look on my face.
"What's the matter?" he laughed heartily, cutting out the
microphone momentarily and seeming to enjoy the joke to the
utmost.
"Would you prefer to be sent to a State or a private institution?"
I rasped, testily. "What insanity is all this? It sounds like the
fee-faw-fum and mummery of a voodoo man."
"Come, now, Tom," he rejoined, argumentatively. "You know as well
as I do what sort of people those gamblers are--superstitious as
the deuce. I did this once before to-day. This is a good time to
do it again, before they persuade themselves that there is nothing
in that story which we printed in the Star.
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