“Did Pat black your boots?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Joshua.
“I thought so,” said the bootblack, contemptuously. “He can’t shine boots. How much did you pay?”
“Twenty cents.”
“Then he cheated you.”
“He said it was the regular price.”
“How that boy will lie!” said the young Arab, virtuously. “The regular price is ten cents. Don’t you want me to give you a shine?”
“No,” said Joshua, hastily drawing back his foot, upon which the bootblack was about to commence operations. “They don’t need any more blacking.”
“Don’t you ever get Pat Brady to shine your boots ag’in.”
“No, I won’t,” said Joshua, indignant at the swindle which the virtuous young bootblack had exposed. “If I ever see him again I’ll give him a licking.”