"Merry Christmas." "Thank you, sare, good frien'," was Tony's reply.

Then the Greek turned briefly, to hide a grin.
"Crowd seems to have left you, Tony," said Dan sympathetically.
"Save their money to buy present for girls," guessed the Greek.
"Tony, have you a small bottle of lemon soda that's good and cold ?" "Oh, yes, sare." "Then I want it." Tony fumbled among bottles clinking in ice under the counter.
At last he found what he wanted and held the bottle up to the capping machine.

Then the Greek did something unusual.

Instead of emptying the bottle into a glass on the counter he performed that service underneath the counter.

Next he held the glass up full of bright, cold liquid filled with bubble and sparkle.
"It makes me thirstier to look at this," muttered Dan, picking up the glass.