“Me do it?” the veteran seemed mildly surprised. “Why, Nick, it’s yore trick! I can’t do no tricks! Go on, roll them pieces up an make ’em come out together. You can do it. Don’t give up so soon.”
“I tell you the trick is ruined!” Nick cried frantically. “I’m finished! I won’t have nothin’ more to do with it! I’m through!”
“Wait a second!” Gus stepped forward. “How about my ten-spot, Nick? Where’s that? I gave it to you. Ain’t you goin’ to roll it up and give it back to me? Golly, Nick, you can take a crack at it anyhow, can’t you? Maybe she’ll work. You never know till you try. Go ahead, Nick—roll ’em up! I sure need that tenner!”
Nick threw his arms about wildly.
“Yore all cookoo! I can’t do the trick now! Me, I had to rip the bill up, nobody else! That was part of the trick!”
“But what difference does it make who tore it?” Pop inquired anxiously. “She’s tore, ain’t she? That’s what you wanted. An’ here’s the handkerchief. Put the pieces in it, Nick, an’ say ‘blooey’, or whatever it is you say, to make ’em come together again. Then you can give the tenner back to Gus. You want to see the trick done, don’t you, Gus?”
“I sure do!” was the positive answer.
Nick looked from one to the other in despair. On the faces of all but Pop and Gus were wide grins. This was something they hadn’t counted on, and the boys were enjoying the situation to its full extent. Roy and Teddy were chuckling with glee.
Nick glanced down once more at the remnants of the bill. Slowly he shook his head.
“Guess it’s on me,” he said sadly. “Gus, I owe you ten. But by golly, it was Pop’s fault! He ought to pay you, by rights. But I’ll stick to my word. I’ll give you the tenner to-morrow, Gus.” He reached out to take the handkerchief from Pop. He was too mad to suggest, or even think of, pasting the parts of the bill together.