Frank was ready for anything
that Bud suggested. He drank when Bud drank, went from the first
saloon to the one farther down and across the street, returned to
the first with cheerful alacrity and much meaningless laughter
when Bud signified a desire to change. It soothed Bud and
irritated him by turns, this ready acquiescence of Frank's. He
began to take a malicious delight in testing that acquiescence.
He began to try whether he could not find the end of Frank's
endurance in staying awake, his capacity for drink, his good
nature, his credulity--he ran the scale of Frank's various
qualifications, seeking always to establish a well-defined
limitation somewhere.
But Frank was utterly, absolutely plastic. He laughed and drank
when Bud suggested that they drink. He laughed and played
whatever game Bud urged him into. He laughed and agreed with Bud
when Bud made statements to test the credulity of anyman. He
laughed and said,"Sure. Let's go!" when Bud pined for a change of
scene.
On the third day Bud suddenly stopped in the midst of a game of
pool which neither was steady enough to play, and gravely
inspected the chalked end of his cue.
"That's about enough of this," he said. "We're drunk.
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