“All right. That’s all I want. Hello, here we are at the Junction. Some of the fellows ought to get on here. There are some of them,” Ned added as he arose in his seat and peered from the window of the car. “Here comes Gus Kiggins himself!” he added hastily.
Several boys noisily entered the car, Gus leading the crowd. As he caught sight of the four boys he hastened down the aisle and, stopping in front of Dan, looked insolently at him and then in his loudest tones began to shout, “Co’ boss! Co’ boss! Co’ boss!”
CHAPTER XXIII
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
Above the noisy greetings of the boys the sneering words of Gus Kiggins were plainly heard. Instinctively the boys turned and looked at Dan, but if he was aware of the taunt he did not manifest his feelings, except that his face flushed slightly.
“How did you find the hog business, Gus?” inquired Ned angrily, as he faced the boisterous bully.
“You’ve said enough about that,” retorted Gus hotly.
“Have I?” laughed Ned, quick to see the impression he had made. “If I have I am glad of it. It’s about the only way one can drive an idea into some heads, you know.” Ned spoke quietly, but his anger was evident to all the boys.
“At any rate I don’t carry the marks of my trade around with me!” declared Gus. “I don’t wear pigskin boots——”
“You don’t have to wear them,” broke in Ned glibly.