“There!” said Rupe, giving the helpless nape a final squeeze. “That's the way we do up at the Third.”
Penrod rubbed his neck and asked meekly:
“Can you do that to any boy up at the Third?”
“See here now,” said Rupe, in the tone of one goaded beyond all endurance, “YOU say if I can! You better say it quick, or——”
“I knew you could,” Penrod interposed hastily, with the pathetic semblance of a laugh. “I only said that in fun.”
“In 'fun'!” repeated Rupe stormily. “You better look out how you——”
“Well, I SAID I wasn't in earnest!” Penrod retreated a few steps. “I knew you could, all the time. I expect I could do it to some of the boys up at the Third, myself. Couldn't I?”
“No, you couldn't.”
“Well, there must be SOME boy up there that I could——”
“No, they ain't! You better——”