"I guess you were glad to get that big bill, Jasper," shouted Joel. "My, wasn't he good to send it!"
"Eh?" asked Jasper. Everybody was chatting and laughing, so it wasn't strange that things couldn't be heard the first time. So Joel shouted it again, glad to be allowed to scream such a splendid contribution over and over. "The big bill, wasn't it prime, Jasper!"
"What are you talking about, Joe?" cried Jasper, stopping his play with
Prince, as he saw Joel was terribly in earnest over something.
"Why, the big bill I gave you, that Mr. Cabot sent. Hurrah! Wasn't it fine!" Joel kicked up his heels and emitted a whistle that made Polly clap her hands over her ears.
"What big bill?" exclaimed Jasper. "What on earth are you talking about,
Joe?"
Joel tumbled out of the hammock and took long leaps across the piazza floor, which landed him in front of Jasper.
"Why, that ten-dollar bill I gave you that Mr. Cabot sent to the post office," he said, in a breath.
"You didn't give me any ten-dollar bill," said Jasper, all in a puzzle; "you've been dreaming, Joe."
"I—I laid it down right by you." Joe could only gasp the words now.
"I didn't see it," said Jasper.