“A feller don’t stop fer manners,” said the man nibbling at the sandwiches gingerly, “when he’s as hungry as I am. Is that all ye’ve got in there?”
“I have some more lunch,” said Jeanne rather indignantly, for the fellow did not seem very ravenous for a hungry man. “I shall keep that for the rest of my journey.”
“Whar yer goin’? Ain’t yer got nobody with yer?” queried the man a gleam coming into his eyes.
“Don’t you think that you are rather inquisitive?” questioned Jeanne boldly. “Why should you want to know where I am going?”
“Because folks have to be keerful in times like these,” said the other brusquely. “Haven’t yer got some money too?”
“I have none to give you,” answered Jeanne. “And I would rather that you would not sit by me any longer. Will you please go away?”
“Not if I knows myself and I think I do,” laughed the man. “See here! I’ll go away if you will give me your purse. I know that it’s in that there basket. You take too much care of it fer it only ter hold yer food. Now give it to me quick.”
“I won’t,” said Jeanne determinedly clinging to the basket, for she had put her purse there after buying some fruit. “If you touch this basket I’ll scream and the people will know what you are doing.”
“Pooh! I’ll tell them that you are my crazy sister that I’m taking to an asylum,” said the fellow easily. “Now you’d better give me that money.”
“People would know that I was not your sister,” exclaimed the girl scornfully. “You don’t look in the least like my brother. Now, sir, go away.”