"You can have my place for nothin'," offered Judd, generously.
The crowd quieted down and waited expectantly. The rube was so well known and such a favorite by this time.
Finally Judd calmed himself enough to face the ordeal. He raised his head and looked out over the crowd.
"Fellows, before I say anythin' more…" he started. But such a flood of laughter and cheering greeted these words that he could get no further.
"Gee!" complimented McCabe, "You've scored a touchdown from kick-off!"
Bob and Cateye came pushing their way through the crowd, supporting a limping Benz between them.
"Rube …!" started Benz, face beaming. "I … er … mean—Judd!"
Bartlett's hero of the hour grinned.
"No you don't Benz … you mean Rube. You couldn't really call me anything else and I wouldn't want you to. I reckon that name fits me best."
"All right, then!" conceded Benz, cuffing Judd playfully, "Though I claim I'm really the rube for calling you a rube!"