"Ain't I told you to keep out o' there?"
Dutch moved his feet, licked his lips, and cleared his throat; words seemed to fail him.
While he hesitated the door opened again, something more than six inches, and Boomerang squeezed through. He shuffled up to Dutch and touched him on the shoulder. "Hey, Dutch, I been chasin' you all over. Pickles went home wit' Little Nell, see? An' she sent me ter tell you."
"Vat! mit dot—" he broke off and turned to Ned. "I begs your pardon, but Fritz, he iss leetle—he learn quick. Right avay I go." He was at the door when Slick hailed him.
"Hey, Dutchy, this yourn?" The other caught the tossed glove, and nodded.
"Yah, first der glove, soon iss Fritz," and the door closed behind him.
"Good as a circus," laughingly declared Buck. "About pay now—how would eighty a month hit you, for a starter?"
"Fine," declared Ned.
"Then here she is, first month," and Buck handed it over. "Will that be enough to square up what you owe?" he added.
"W'y, I don't owe nothin'," declared Ned.