He wanted to do something to entertain his friends beyond taking
them out for a drink. He invited them down to his room, and
they came.
Teddem was in wonderful form; he mimicked every one they saw so
amiably that Tom Poppins knew the actor wanted to borrow money.
The party were lovingly humming the popular song of the
time--"Any Little Girl That's a Nice Little Girl is the Right
Little Girl for Me"--as they frisked up the gloomy steps of the
Zapps. Entering, Poppins and Teddem struck attitudes on the
inside stairs and sang aloud.
Mr. Wrenn felt enormously conscious of Mrs. Zapp down below. He
kept listening, as he led them up-stairs and lighted the gas.
But Teddem so imitated Colonel Roosevelt, with two water-glasses
for eye-glasses and a small hat-brush for mustache, that Mr.
Wrenn was moved wrigglingly to exclaim: "Say, I'm going out and
get some beer. Or 'd you rather have something else? Some
cheese sandwiches? How about 'em?"
"Fine," said Tom and Teddem together.
Not only did Mr. Wrenn buy a large newspaper-covered bundle of
bottles of beer and Swiss-cheese sandwiches, but also a small
can of caviar and salty crackers.
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