“You bet not!”
“Why not?”
Little Jerry looked mysterious. “I ain't tellin' all I know,” said he.
The two young fellows laughed. Here was education for them! “Maybe you'll go back to the old country?” put in Dicky Everson.
“No, sir-ee!” said Little Jerry. “I'm American.”
“Maybe you'll be president some day.”
“That's what my father says,” replied the little chap—“president of a miners' union.”
Again they laughed; but Rosa gave a nervous whisper and caught at the child's sleeve. That was not the sort of thing to say to mysterious and rich-looking strangers! “This is Little Jerry's mother, Mrs. Minetti,” put in Hal, by way of reassuring her.
“Glad to meet you, Mrs. Minetti,” said the two young men, taking off their hats with elaborate bows; they stared, for Rosa was a pretty object as she blushed and made her shy response. She was much embarrassed, having never before in her life been bowed to by men like these.
And here they were greeting Joe Smith as an old friend, and calling him by a strange name! She turned her black Italian eyes upon Hal in inquiry, and he felt a flush creeping over him. It was almost as uncomfortable to be found out by North Valley as to be found out by Western City!