“It may look that way, Billy,” said Dick; “but I assure you that we have just seen the point of the joke. We humbly beg your pardon. But I assure you that smiles, with its mile between the first and last letters, is not the longest word. I know one that is longer.”
“Hi doubt hit,” retorted Bradley. “What is hit?”
“It is longer,” explained Dick.
“Hi know you said so, but what is the word?”
“It is longer,” repeated Dick.
“That’s all right. Hit may be, but what is hit?”
“I will spell it for you,” smiled Dick. “L-o-n-g-e-r. Can’t you see that proves my claim. It is longer.”
Bradley paused with his mouth open. Slowly the point dawned on him. He slapped his thigh and uttered an exclamation.
“By Jawve! that’s a good one! Hit’s better than the hother one! But Hi’ll wager hanything lots hof fellows will not see the point when Hi spring hit hon them. Don’t you know, Merriwell, Hi believe some people inherit their blawsted stupidity.”
“My dear Bradley!” exclaimed Dick, as if shocked. “It’s not proper to speak that way of your parents!”