Malt rose with dignity and closed the
windows. The Senator, with a well-simulated scowl, at once opened them
both.
"Stranger!" said Mr. Malt, while momma fumbled for her ticket, "I shut
those windows."
"Sir," responded poppa, "if you had not done so I shouldn't have been
obliged to open them."
"I can't die of pneumonia, sir," said Mr. Malt, again closing the
window, "to oblige _you_."
"Nor do I feel compelled," returned the Senator furiously, "to
asphyxiate my family to make it comfortable for you!" and the window
fell with a bang.
The guard, holding out a massive hand for my ticket, took no notice
whatever.
"Put it up again," said Mrs. Malt, who was more anxious than any of us
to avenge herself upon the German railway system, "and try to break the
glass."
"Attract his attention, Alexander," said momma. "Pull one of his silly
buttons off."
The guard gave no sign--he was replacing the elastic round my book of
coupons after detaching the green one on which was printed, "Strasburg
nach Mainz."
Poppa and Mr. Malt were sitting opposite each other in the middle of
the carriage.
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