There was a pause.
“Gimme a nickel ‘n’ I’ll leave ye off,” said Tom magnanimously.
The boy laughed and asked, “What do you want the nickel for?”
“Fer a cup o’ coffee.”
Roy paused a minute, biting his lip ruminatively, frankly contemplating him.
“I can make you a better cup of coffee,” said he, “than any lunch wagon juggler in this town. You’re halfway up the hill now; come on up the rest of the way—just for a stunt. Ever up on the hill?”
Tom hesitated.
“Come on, you’re not in a hurry to get home, are you? I’ll give you some plum-duff I made and you can have a belt axe to chop it with if you want to. Come on, just for a stunt.”
“Who’s up dere?”
“Just ‘Yours sincerely.’”