“He is bothering you! He—he’s a thorn in your flesh!”
“Oh!” said the other vaguely. “Is he?”
“Of course he is! He’s talking, too. Some of the things he’s said have got back to me.”
“What?” asked Dud.
“Never mind what. You wouldn’t want to hear ’em, I guess.”
Dud laughed. “You’re making that up, Jimmy,” he charged. “You’re just dying to get me into a scrap with him. I wouldn’t mind—much, although I guess he’d lick me, but I don’t see any use in fighting him about nothing. Of course, if he did anything, or said anything——”
“Haven’t I been telling you——”
“And I heard him say it,” added Dud hastily, “why, that would be different.”
“Oh, if you’re going to wait for him to knock you down!”
“I’m not,” replied Dud indignantly, “but I can’t fight him for nothing at all!”