“We don’t bet,” returned Jerry quietly.
“Oh! I suppose you’re afraid you’ll lose,” came with a sneer.
“No, it isn’t that,” went on Jerry, looking the bully square in the eye. “We don’t bet on principle, but we do think we’ll win, and, if we did bet it would not be with you, Noddy Nixon.”
“Do you mean to say I’m not good enough to bet with?” demanded Noddy, advancing toward Jerry.
“I didn’t say that, but you can take my remark any way you choose,” replied Jerry.
“And I’ll take it that you want to insult me!” exclaimed the bully.
“Very well.”
“And I allow no one to insult me without paying for it,” proceeded Noddy, in a blustering tone. “You’ll have to fight me.”
“Look here!” exclaimed Jerry. “You seem to want to pick a quarrel, Noddy Nixon. Let me tell you I’m not afraid of you. I don’t want to fight, but, if I have to you’ll be the first to cry ‘quits.’ I’m not anxious to fight, but I’m not going to run away.”
“Nor I!” cried Ned and Bob.