In all her earthly career, she had never before found a man who bolted when she wanted to kiss him!
With a decisive gesture, she removed the five-dollar bill from the palm of her glove, and stood up, facing Tick Hush.
“Come here, Tick, an’ git dis money!” she commanded.
“No’m,” Tick chattered. “I wouldn’t come even fer five dollars!”
“Come on! I won’t kiss you—I jes’ want to han’ dis change back—honest!” Dazzle urged.
“Hang it on de rose bush an’ git back about fawty feet!” Tick commanded. “I ain’t trustin’ nobody no more!”
Dazzle solemnly laid the bill upon a branch of the rose, piercing it with a thorn so that it would not fall to the ground.
“Tick,” she said in a serious tone, “my advices to you is dis: You buy a real nice present fer dat gal of your’n wid dis money. Gib it to her an’ tell her you wants to marry her, den ax her paw to throw you down an hawg-tie you ontil she kin git her fust engagement kiss. Good-by!”
Dazzle Zenor turned away from the two men, went straight to her room, and sat down before a mirror. For half an hour, she studied every feature of her face with critical inspection. But her silent inquiry was in vain. To the end of her life, she wondered why Tick had bolted when she had tried to kiss him!
As for Tick, he edged around the rosebush until he got within reaching distance of that five-dollar bill. He grabbed it and ran down the street as if he were chased by a dozen pretty women desirous of presenting him with an affectionate osculation.