“You boys ought to be ashamed of yourselves, both of you–fighting like a pair of kids. I wish you could see yourselves! You look exactly like drowned rats!”
292The lads could not not see themselves, but they could see each other, and the exhibit was convincing. Sherm’s mouth puckered into its crooked smile.
“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it, Chicken Little, it’s all right with me. So long, Grant.”
Sherm picked up his coat and cap and set off, leaving Jane to follow or linger as she saw fit. She turned to Grant.
“I didn’t mean to get you into trouble, Grant.”
“Don’t mention it, and, truly–I didn’t intend to frighten you, Chicken Little. I guess you aren’t like most of the girls on the Creek–I didn’t suppose you’d take it that way. Good-bye, Sherm,” he called. Grant also picked up his belongings and departed.
Chicken Little rescued the water pail and carried it into the schoolhouse. She secured her hat and lunch basket, and was starting for the door when a wonderful idea buzzed in her brain. Slipping to the window she glanced out. Grant was striding rapidly off up the road. She ran to the board and hastily erased that hateful “Hancock and English” and as hastily wrote the names of the other presidential candidates in letters a foot high across the front board, underlining them heavily and putting hands pointing toward them on each of the side boards. This done, she locked the schoolhouse 293door, as she had promised Mr. Clay, and, taking the key over to a neighbor’s a few rods away, joyously departed homeward.
Sherm was not in sight when she started. A little farther down the hill she saw him waiting beside a haystack. He had evidently been watching to make sure she did not get into further trouble. He walked briskly on as soon as he caught sight of her.
Young Mr. Dart looked a trifle sulky at supper that evening. Chicken Little tried to attract his attention in various ways without success. Sherm was resolved to ignore her. Finally, she addressed him directly.
“Won’t you please pass the water, Sherm?” she asked with exaggerated meekness.