“Ah shucks!” said Johnny, embarrassed. “I couldn’t stand to see him strike you, Janey, but I don’t like to fight.”
“Weren’t you mad though! You cried!” Janey went on.
“That’s it!” Johnny exclaimed. “I get too angry and have to cry like a boo baby! That’s why I always get licked, because my eyes fill up with tears and I can’t see!”
“Oh Johnny, I’ll bet you don’t always get licked, either! You can lick anyone I’ll bet, if you want to!” his sister said proudly.
“Well of course I really don’t get licked every time!” Johnny admitted. Then, with a laugh, he added, “Because sometimes I can run faster than the other fellow and he doesn’t catch me!”
“Of course it’s wrong to fight!” Janey said as they walked away in a different direction from the one taken by the Strange Man. “It always seems so useless, doesn’t it?”
“Unless it’s something like this fight!” Johnny answered.
“I guess I couldn’t have fought so well if I hadn’t been fighting for you! Did he hurt you much, Janey?”
“He hurt me when he pinched my arm, but he didn’t hit me with the stick,” Janey said, as she showed Johnny the bruised place on her arm.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t know of that bruise,” cried Johnny, “while I had him down!”