CHAPTER XI
OFF FOR BRILL COLLEGE
When old Ricks saw his neighbor approaching he could not at first believe his eyes. Then he ran up to the man, who was a particularly sour individual.
"Say, I thought you was dead," he gasped.
"Dead?" returned Ham Ludd. "Do I look like I was dead?" And he glared savagely at Ricks. "I ain't dead, not by a jugful!"
"Humph! Well, if you ain't dead, mebbe you'll explain about that cat, an' dog," went on old Ricks.
"Wot about 'em?"
"You told folks I poisoned the cat and starved the dog to death."
"I did not."