The light of battle began to glow in Betty’s eyes, but still she stood irresolute.
“I’ll give you a cent if you hit me,” pursued Fred.
“My! isn’t he reckless with his money?” mocked Pee Wee.
“He talks like a millionaire,” added Mouser.
“A whole cent,” mused Bobby.
Fred flushed.
“Make it a nickel, then,” he said. “And if that isn’t enough, I’ll give you a dime,” he added, in a final burst of generosity.
“Have you got it?” Betty asked suspiciously. She knew that Fred was usually in a state of bankruptcy.
“I’ve got it all right,” retorted her brother, “and what’s more I’m going to keep it, because you couldn’t hit anything in a thousand years.”
Whether it was the taunt or the dime or both, Betty was spurred to action. She hesitated no longer, but picked up a snowball and threw it at the fair mark that Fred presented.