"You can't have the bill!" snarled Uriah, snatching it from Ralph's hand. "Why, I never heard tell of such high-handed proceedings in my life before!" he went on.
"You can keep the bill for the present, Mr. Dicks——"
"Of course I will! Do you suppose I'm going to lose twenty dollars?"
"But you must promise me not to give it out until you hear from me again."
"I don't see what right you have to dictate to me what I should do an' what I shouldn't do——"
"I am not dictating. The bill is mine, and I intend to have it, sooner or later."
"But where do we come in?" asked Will Dicks, who was cooler than his parent.
"You will have to look to Percy Paget to make the loss good."
"If he has cheated me I'll have him locked up!" cried Uriah, drawing down his sharp face. "But you haven't proved the bill yours yet."
"I know that. All I am asking is that you keep the bill for the present, and not pay it out to any one."