Siner shouted from across the street two or three times before he caught Tump's attention. The ex-soldier looked around, sobered abruptly.
"Whut-chu want, nigger?" His inquiry was not over-cordial.
Peter nodded him across the street.
The heavily built black in khaki hesitated a moment, then started across the street with the dragging feet of a reluctant negro. Peter looked at him as he came up.
"What's the matter, Tump?" he asked playfully.
"Ain't nothin' matter wid me, nigger." Peter made a guess at Tump's surliness.
"Look here, are you puffed up because Cissie Dildine struck you for a ten?"
Tump's expression changed.
"Is she struck me fuh a ten?"
"Yes; on that school subscription."