Palmer and Bates were Jim Smith’s most devoted adherents.
“What are you going to do, Jim?” questioned Palmer.
“I’m going to stir him up a little,” said Jim, with a malicious smile. “Go and get a blanket.”
“All right!” said Palmer.
“We’ll toss him in a blanket. He won’t look so sulky after we get through with him.”
There were two or three other boys standing by, who heard these words.
“It’s a shame!” said one, in a low voice. “See the poor little chap, how sad he looks! I felt just as he does when I first came to school.”
“Jim ought not to do it,” said the second. “It’s a mean thing to do.”
“Tell him so.”
“No, thank you. He’d treat me the same way.”