"Hello!" called the mechanic, discovering the boys and at once
approaching.
"Hello, to you!" called back George. "It's been a long time since
I have seen you. I shan't forget you for I have three or four
good reasons."
"I hope you won't," laughed the mechanic, "but I should like to
know what your reasons are."
"One reason," said George seriously, "was that you never shook
hands with me in the morning when you came to work."
"I didn't know you wanted me to," said the man. "I'll make up for
lost time now." As he spoke he grasped the hand which extended
from George's right sleeve and as George at that same moment
turned quickly away, the astonished handshaker stood holding in
his grasp an arm which had apparently come from the sleeve of the
boy.
"That's right," said George soberly, pretending to be much
grieved. "That's right. First you don't shake hands and then you
shake hands so hard that you take my arm right off."
The sight had quickly drawn many of the people who were loitering
about the dock and for a moment they were startled to see what
had been apparently a serious accident.
"It's nothing," said George, turning to the assembly. "This man
shook hands with me and the first thing I know he had shaken my
arm off. He's welcome to it, however, and I hope it will do him
some good."
The crowd was laughing noisily by this time and when George
turned back to resume his place on board the motor-boat, the
mechanic was the center of an observing throng which was
inspecting the arm that he still was holding.
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