"Why, now--now--I thought maybe I could get you--"
Sube opened negotiations without waiting for Sim to conclude his statements. "What"ll you gimme?" he asked.
"What"ll you take?"
"Well, what"ll you gimme?"
"Well, what"ll you take?"
"Look here!" cried Sube with exasperation. "Ain"t I got to know what you pay before I can go to work for you?"
"Yes, and ain"t I got to know what you charge "fore I can hire you?"
returned Sim feebly.
"Huh!" snorted Sube as he made a feint to go on with the lawn-mower.
Sim came to time. "Give you a dime," he offered magnanimously.
Without deigning to reply Sube started on with the mower. He had cut twice across the lawn before Sim appeared at the corner of the house.
"Hey, Sube! Give you fifteen!" he called.
"Nuthin" doin"," returned Sube as he went about his work with renewed vigor.
He had two more strips to his credit when Sim stayed his progress with an offer of twenty cents.
"I don"t work for less"n a quarter," Sube announced loftily as he resumed his work.
"Hold on a minute! Can"t you!" yelled Sim with unconcealed exasperation.
And as Sube halted in a position from which he could begin activities again with very little effort, Sim continued more affably: "I only got twenty cents! I can"t give you any more than I got, can I?"
"You had a quarter a couple of days ago," charged Sube with an air of suspicion. "What"d you do with the other nickel?"
"Spent it."
"What for?"
"Some new rubbers for my slingshot."
"Oh, that"ll be all right!"
"_What_ will?"
"I"ll take the twenty cents and the slingshot. Bring "em to me before you start."
And the lawn-mower moved on with just a little more noise and a little more speed than before.
CHAPTER X
HIS DAY
The handle of a slingshot protruded from Sube"s hip-pocket, and money jingled as he walked a few minutes later when Gizzard Tobin, Biscuit Westfall and Stucky Richards swooped down on him as he humbly toiled.
The new-comers had their tennis racquets, and Biscuit was resplendent in a new pair of white knickerbockers.
Sube fixed a disdainful glance on the snowy trousers, instantly recalling Nancy Guilford"s partiality for such raiment, as he inquired, "What you all dolled up for?"
"Comp"ny," responded Biscuit cheerfully. "We got a missionary visitin"
to our house. But say, see what I got!"
Sube raised his eyes to the speaker"s hand and beheld a tennis ball with the unaccustomed advantage of a cover. "Where"d you get it?" he asked listlessly.
"Miss Carruthers give it to me. It"s only "bout a year or two old! Ain"t it a peach! Hurry up and get the lawn done and then we"ll have some doubles."
Sube pointed to Biscuit"s shoes. "You can"t play with those heels on, you know."
"Well, I can go barefoot, can"t I?"
"Not if "mama" knows it," twitted Sube with an offensive nasal accent on the mama, as he grasped the handle of the lawn-mower and resumed his task while his callers disappeared in the direction of the tennis court.
After a few moments Biscuit reappeared on a run, minus his shoes and stockings. "Hey, Sube!" he yelled. "The net ain"t up! Where"ll I find it?"
"I"ll tend to that," growled Sube. "You go on back to the court."
And he abandoned the lawn-mower and went into the house. After a long wait he emerged from the back door and started towards the court. He did not turn back when Biscuit reminded him that he had forgotten the net, but proceeded silently to the nearest net post, to which he pinned a sheet of paper. Then he returned to his work on the lawn.
Three mystified boys scrambled to their feet and hurried over to examine the paper. It read.
GrOunD RuLeS ALL tHe WOrK On tHe pLACe MuSt Be FiniSHied BeFOre tHe teNiS Nett iS Put uP.
By OrDOR COmm
[Ill.u.s.tration]
"Now what does he mean by that?" asked Biscuit.
"He means they can"t n.o.body play on this here court till his work is done," interpreted Gizzard.
"Well, you don"t catch me doin" any of his work!" cried Stucky. "I got enough of my own!"
"Me neither--" began Biscuit, when Gizzard interrupted.
"Listen here!" he shouted. "Quit your beefin" and listen here a minute!
I got a scheme!"
"If it"s a scheme for us to do his work you needn"t tell it!" returned Biscuit. "I"ve done more work this mornin" than he does in a week--"