“If you’ll tell me the names of all who were in it, I’ll give you a pistareen, and if you won’t, I’ll tell Mr. Whitman you was one of them.”
“I’m afraid to; they’ll lick me to death.”
“I never will tell who told me.”
“But they’ll know, because they know I am the only one, except themselves, who knows who did it.”
“If I guess whom they were, will you tell me if I guess right?”
“If, instead of the pistareen, you’ll give me a quarter, and keep it to yourself till day after to-morrow noon, I’ll tell you.”
“Why don’t you want me to keep it to myself any longer than till day after to-morrow noon?”
“Because to-morrow is my last day of school, and I am going off the next morning to Reading, to learn a trade, and I know you won’t tell a lie.”
“I’ll give you the quarter, and promise to keep it till then.”
“Then go into the schoolhouse with me. I’ll show you on the fire-list.”