The crowd only stared at him in all the more perplexity then.
“I haven’t, for one,” said Texas.
Mark gazed at him quizzically.
“I must say you’re very dull,” he said. “I expected better things from my old chum. See here, I’ll explain it for you.”
Mark sat down again, after executing another delighted fandango. Then he sat and eyed his companions.
“I’ll help you to guess what I mean,” said he, smiling. “’Listen, my children, and you shall hear.’ Pay attention, and no peeking on your neighbor’s slates.”
“Go on!” growled Texas, who was somewhat piqued at not having seen the mysterious joke. “Go on an’ quit yo’ foolin’.”
“All right,” laughed Mark, “You said I looked like Allen, didn’t you?”
“Yes; what about it?”
“I’d look a good deal more like him if I had his uniform on, wouldn’t I?”