“Had to do it,” smiled Merry. “Case of necessity.”
“You did it so quick, and you handled that ruffian! I never saw a fight before in my life, and it frightened me. But I was so proud of you when all the crowd was shouting your name and cheering. They all seemed to know you, Frank.”
“That’s right, by gum!” cried Ephraim. “Yeou seem to be purty nigh as well known here as yeou was at skule. Guess yeou’re bound to be pop’ler wherever yeou go.”
“I pet a dandy goot actor vould make him,” said Hans.
“Yes, I ruther think he’d make a good actor,” agreed Ephraim. “He will hev a chaince before he’s bin with Haley long, if he goes with the show. Better do it, Frank. We’ll hev heaps of fun.”
“Yaw, dot’s vot’s der madder!” cried Hans. “You’d petter took dot shob uf he don’d pay a goot lot.”
Little Nell showed her alarm.
“What job is that?” she asked, flutteringly.
“P’r’aps he’ll hev a chaince to go aout on the road with aour show,” explained Ephraim.
“And he’ll have to leave us!” cried Nellie.