Dick, Marjorie and Fidge Part 31

"Hold hard! Stop! Here we are!" cried the Dodo, soon after they had reached Charing Cross. "There's A. B. C."

"We haven't got to Norfolk Street yet," said the cabby.

"Never mind, there's A. B. C., and that's who I want," declared the Dodo, scrambling down from the roof. "You stay in the cab till I come back," he called out to the children, smoothing his gloves and settling his tie as he walked towards the door.

The children watched him enter, and through the gla.s.s door of the shop--for it was a shop into which he had gone--saw him engaged in a lengthy conversation with a young lady, who at first seemed afraid of him; but, some more ladies coming up, they closed around the bird, and seemed to be highly amused at something, while the Dodo grew more and more excited, waving his pinions about, and stamping his claws furiously, and finally rus.h.i.+ng out of the shop and slamming the door too violently.

"I never heard of such impertinence," he declared, puffing and blowing in his excitement, "putting up A. B. C., when they are nothing of the sort. They wanted to tell me that they have a right to use those letters, because they are the Aerated Bread Company. What rubbis.h.!.+ They might as well stick up X. Y. Z. Who's to know what's meant? Aerated Bread Company, indeed! It might as well have stood for Antediluvian Bottlewas.h.i.+ng Company. Bah! I've no patience with such nonsense." And in a highly-ruffled state of mind he scrambled back to his place on the roof, and told the cabby to drive on to Norfolk Street.

After a few minutes' ride they stopped outside a handsome building, and the Dodo once more alighted, and went up the steps to where a man in brown livery, with gilt b.u.t.tons, stood by the lift.

"Are you A. B. C.?" demanded the Dodo, posing in what he evidently took to be a dignified att.i.tude.

"N--no--second floor!" gasped the astonished attendant.

"Dear me, what a bother," said the Dodo. "Just go and tell him I'm here, will you?" he said; "I've come about the situation, you know."

"Oh!" said the man, "you'd better go up; there are several applicants already."

"Bless me!" cried the Dodo, in alarm. "I'd better hurry then."

"Will you go up in the lift--er--Sir?" asked the attendant.

"What's that?" demanded the Dodo.

"Oh, get in, and you'll see," said the man, unceremoniously, pus.h.i.+ng the bird into the lift, and getting in after him.

He pulled the rope, and up they went, the Dodo sinking to the ground with a ridiculous sprawl as the lift ascended.

"Oh! Oh! Stop!" he screamed, shrilly.

But the lift went till the second floor was reached, when the attendant opened the door, and bundled the bird out into the pa.s.sage.

"Second door on the left," he called out, and, pulling the string, was soon out of sight again.

"Good gracious!" gasped the bewildered Dodo, "I was never so bustled about before in all my life. But now for this A. B. C., whoever he is. I mustn't lose the situation if I can help it."

The second door on the left was soon found, and the Dodo knocked with his beak.

A small youth appeared, who at first seemed rather alarmed, but presently exploded into a half-stifled laugh. "My hat!" he exclaimed.

"Here's a go! Why, blessed if it ain't a bird with gloves on--and a tie--oh! what a lark!"

"No," said the Dodo, with dignity, "not a lark--your education must have been sadly neglected, my good boy--I'm a Dodo, or _the_ Dodo, in fact."

"Well, I never!" said the boy, "if it isn't talking!"

"Of course. Why not?" demanded the Dodo.

"Oh! oh! this is too good! What may your business be, Mr.--er--Dodo?"

"I've come about the situation," said the bird, smoothing his gloves consequentially.

The boy exploded into a fit of laughter. "Oh, come in!" he cried. "This is better than a circus--come in--I'll tell the Governor you're here."

And the Dodo was ushered into a room where two or three gentlemen were sitting at high desks.

"Who is it, Perkins?" said one of the gentlemen.

"Some one about the situation, Sir," said Perkins, stuffing his handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself laughing aloud.

The gentlemen all turned around and stared at the Dodo.

"Why, it's a bird!" cried one.

"Of course it is; what else did you expect I was?" said the Dodo. "Are you A. B. C.?"

"No--no," stammered the man. "I'm the Head Clerk, though, and--I----"

"I've no time to waste with Head Clerks," said the Dodo. "Just go and tell A. B. C. I'm here, will you?"

"But er----"

At this moment an inner door opened, and another gentleman stepped into the room.

"Whatever is all this noise----" he began, when he caught sight of the Dodo.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e"]

"Are you A. B. C.?" said the bird, pouncing upon him at once.

"Well--really," said the gentleman, "I----"

"Don't beat about the bush. Are you A. B. C., or are you not?" demanded the Dodo.

"Yes, I am, but----"

"Very well, then, I've come to take the situation, and I'll just draw my first week's salary at once, if you please."

"But," said the gentleman, with an amused smile, "I must see some of your work first. Perkins, bring the typewriter!"

The boy brought the instrument, and placed it on a small table.

"Now, then," said the gentleman, motioning the Dodo towards it.

"Oh! it's so long since I played," said the Dodo, smirking bashfully, "I think I have almost forgotten my notes; however, I'll try." And, throwing his head back, he shrieked out in a discordant voice--

"_Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e_!" banging on the keys at the same time with both pinions.

"Here! Stop! Stop!" called out the gentleman; "you'll break it! _That's_ not the way to do typewriting."