“Don’t get smart, Bob,” cried Sammy. “Oh, there’s little Benny Lane.”
“And Jed Burr, big as life,” added Bob. “Look at him, Frank. I should think he’d get tired of that same old trick of his.”
“What trick, Bob?” asked Frank.
“Watch him and see.”
Their eyes were fixed on a boy who was moving from place to place on the playground. This was Jed Burr. He was known as the bully of the school, and, except by a few chums of his own kind, was not very well liked.
As a new arrival came upon the playground, he would go up to him and put out his hand as if to welcome him. Just now an innocent-faced little fellow put out his hand in response. Jed seized it, gave the boy a quick jerk, and sent him flat on his face with a great laugh.
Jed spied the three friends as they came up, and hurried towards them.
“Look out, fellows,” warned Sammy.
“Oh, we know his tricks,” replied Bob.
“You know, when he can’t catch a fellow with the hand-shake,” said Sammy, “he runs up to him when he isn’t looking and gives him a slap on the back that nearly knocks the breath out of him.”