“I’ll go as far as my pa’s fence goes, anyway,” repeated Mamie, skipping along, “’n’ I’ll go further if I wanter.”

“Mamie Hecker,” said Eunice, stopping suddenly, “if you go one step further than your father’s fence,—I’ll spank you.”

CHAPTER XIV.
LYNCH-LAW.

Mamie looked considerably startled. Provoking little imp as she was, the girls had never actually touched her.

“You dassent,” she said, unbelievingly, after a moment. “You dassent tetch me.”

“Yes, I do dare, and I will,” said Eunice, firmly.

The children had been walking on through the orchard, during the dispute, Mamie keeping along by the fence. They were close to the corner now, where a gate opened.

“Don’t you follow us one step beyond that gate.” Eunice looked so determined that Mamie thought she had better try to make terms.

“If I don’t go no further,” she said, hanging on to the gate, “will you give me candy when you come back?”

“No, I won’t. We’re not coming back this way.”