Page:Pipetown Sandy (Sousa 1905).djvu/37

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
IT'S ALL IN THE FINGERS
21

Tom Foley and Dink Dabney, about a hundred yards off, were coming toward him, and by their gestures it was clear that Gilbert was the subject of their conversation.

"I'll allow he knows his lessons better'n the rest of the gang, but I'd rather never know nuthin' than be a mama's-boy," said Tom.

"He don't look like no mama's-boy. In course, he ain't strong and healthy like us, but he don't look like no mama's-boy," ventured Dink.

"I betcher he is, an' what's more, I'd betcher ten potterskills, if I had 'em, I'd scare him outer a year's growth by jest sayin' Boo!"

"Well, I ain't got no ten potterskills to betcher, but if I had, I'd betcher he ain't no mama's-boy, an' he won't scare worth a cent," retorted Dink warmly.

"Watch me," said young Foley. By this time they were within a few yards of Gilbert, who was gazing through the window into the store. As the boys came nearer he turned, and, with that smile which one boy always gives another when he wishes to get on particularly friendly terms, he looked inquiringly at Dink and Tom.

"Eh, mama's-boy, I wants to talk to yer," sneeringly called the latter.

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.