“Go away from me,” advised Obediah, with an attempt at sternness. “If I ever did hit you once I’d knock a lung out of you.”
“Gug-gug-gug-get up,” cried Chip immediately, as he began putting on one pair of gloves. “Come right ahead and tut-tut-tut-try it.”
The boys laughed and applauded, urging Obediah to get up and show what he could do.
In vain Chip urged him, and at last, walking over to Obediah, he began to tap him with the gloves.
“Get up!” cried Jolliby. “If you dud-dud-don’t I’ll fuf-fuf-flatten that nose of yours all over your fuf-fuf-fuf-fuf-face!”
“Dern your picter,” squeaked Obediah immediately, “if you hit me again I’ll soak you on the bugle!”
“That’s the talk!” said Earl Gardner. “Go for him, Obediah!”
“I jest hate to see anything like this!” said Ted Smart, as he forced the other pair of gloves onto Tubbs. “It fills me with the utmost distress! Put them on quick, Obed, and sail into him. You’ll break my heart if you do it, but I think you’d better do it!”
While Tubbs was hesitating Jolliby gave him a tap on the nose that brought tears into his eyes. With a wild squeal, the fat boy leaped into the air and began putting on the gloves. With difficulty he was repressed while they were tied at the wrists, and when everything was ready the two boys squared away.
“Now if you want to see science,” said the fat boy, flourishing his hands wildly, “jest you keep your optics on me. I’ll show you some kinks that will make you wink.”