"Good night," rejoined Tam, pocketing his money and shuffling off down the street.
He had hardly gone two blocks when from the shadow of an elm-shaded yard the figure of Dan Cassell slipped out and intercepted him.
"So you've been fired, eh?"
He shot the question at the simple-minded Norwegian lad with vicious emphasis.
"No, I no bane fired; they bane tell me no want me more."
"Well, isn't that being fired? Moreover, I can tell you that they've hired another fellow in your place."
The Norwegian youth's light blue eyes lit up with indignant fire. Like most of his race he was keenly sensitive once aroused, and while he was quite agreeable to being dropped from his temporary job, he hated to think of being supplanted in it. Crafty Dan Cassell was playing his cards well, for a purpose that will be seen ere long.
"So they bane fire me," ejaculated Tam.
"That's the size of it. I guess you feel pretty sore, Tam, don't you?"
"No, they bane pay me wale; but I no like being fired."