Knew His Public IN a street-market a man was selling torch batteries. One buyer fitted the battery into his torch and switched it on. "Hey," he cried, "this battery's no good."
Immediately all the other buyers found their batteries were weak, too. There was an angry murmur, but the salesman had his answer ready. "You've had orders to dull your torches, haven't you? Well, my firm are making them ready dulled,"
The Sparrow Calls Lieuts were blazing in The Other Sparrow's nest, and The Sparrow, glad of a chance to make a call, swerved on his way to the Treetops Club and banged on the door.
"Hoi, gorgeous," shouted The Sparrow. "Don't you know there's a war on?"
"Who's that?" called back The Other Sparrow.
"Just somebody who worships the grass you hop on," said The Sparrow.
"Oh, it's you," said The Other Sparrow. "Come in, You're just in time for supper."
The Other Sparrow's voice was gay, and her bright eyes shone an invitation into the warm, cosy nest.
"You must have known I was coming, Sex Apreal," said The Sparrow, warming a claw by ihe fire, knew somebody was coming," said The Oti Sparrow.
"Is that so?" said The Sparrow, "And who's somebody?"
"Just anybody," said The Other Sparrow, "If a lonely girl takes down her A.R.P. curtains somebody's sure to call, even if it's only a warden."
"And instead of a warden you got me," said The Sparrow.
"Yes, I got you," said The Other Sparrow. "And so what?"
"Aren't you glad?" asked The Sparrow, going towards her.
"TI tell you later," said The Other Sparrow, moving away.
"You look marvellous tonight," said The Sparrow, following up. "Some place, some time, Ive heard that before, said The Other Sparrow, backing into a corner.
"You go to my head—like wine," said The Sparrow, taking her claw in his.
"Cliché No. 4l" said The Other Sparrow. "How's the wife?"
The Sparrow dropped her claw and turned petulantly away.
"What did you bring that up for?" he asked.
"It's a girl's only defence against married men," said The Other Sparrow, "and we certainly need it, believe me, How is she, anyying into her knitting as usual" said The Sparrow.
"And who made her cry?" asked The Other Sparrow.
"You don't have to make her." said The Sparrow.:"The difficulty is to stop her. She's just a big, leaking tap."
"I don't like to hear men speaking of their wives likè that," said The Other Sparrow. "It's not nice."
"You shouldn't have brought it up," said The Sparrow.
"Don't be sulky now," said The Other Sparrow, "or I won't give you any supper."
"I don't want any supper," said The Sparrow, making another pass at her. "I want you."
"Naughty, naughty," said The Other Sparrow, slapping his claw. "Supper first."
"And then what?" asked The Sparrow.
"Depends how you behave," said The Other Sparrow. "We might have the gramophone on and dance. Or I might read to you. Or I might sing to you.—Tra-la-la-la-la. ' Tra-la-la-la-la. Tra-la-la-lab-h-h-h."
She filled The Nest with her highest notes as she put the supper on the table. tnguhere." she said. "What do you think of at?"
"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy," said The Nuberg. "Supper first was right. Oh boy, oh Sparrow, burying his beak in the worm
ey."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.