CHAPTER X
PUTTING OUT A LIVELY BLAZE
Pepper was so full of high spirits that at the supper table he could not resist the temptation to play a joke. He saw Joe Nelson using his handkerchief and, on the sly, took up the pepper-shaker and dosed the cloth liberally with pepper.
Poor Joe caught the full benefit of the pepper, and in the midst of the meal commenced to sneeze loudly.
"Why, Nelson, what is the matter?" asked Mr. Strong, who was at the table that evening.
"I don't—ker-choo!—know!" stammered Joe. "I believe—ker-choo! ker-choo!"
"Exactly," whispered Pepper. "Very simple explanation, very."
"I—ker-choo!—I guess I had better—ker-choo!" went on Joe.
"He's 'ker-chooing' all he needs to," was Jack's comment, and this caused a general titter.
"I guess I'll ask to—ker-choo!—to be excused—ker-choo!" went on Joe, and jumping up he left the table and the room. He ran out on the campus and there sneezed himself free of the pepper, much to his relief.