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Updated: May 13, 2025
Even Sid DuPree and Silvey and the rest of the "Tigers" had only derisive laughter. It was the first time in his life that he had been made to feel ridiculous and he liked it not at all. He felt strangely out of place and stood to one side of the yard, a scowl on his face, glaring at the throng of merrymakers.
Silvey shrugged his shoulders and admitted that the entertainment had its alluring side. "Chocolate cake," he repeated. "Just think, all you can eat." There was an envious silence. "Strawberry ice cream. Three helpings to a fellow; and I'll have more, 'cause I wouldn't let you throw cucumbers at Louise." His chum's face grew wistful. "S'long," said John exuberantly.
Strangely enough, he experienced a feeling of relief when he left her at the apartment building and was able to race back to the shack where Silvey was waiting. There the two planned and boasted of combats to take place under his leadership on the renovated baseball field, until a warning conscience reminded John that it was nearing paper time.
John would be willing to pay a dime for the service. Silvey assented gladly, for ten-cent pieces were scarcities among the small boy population just before Christmas, when the display of penny and five-cent novelties in the school store window proved so tempting. Thus the difficulty was solved.
"Well," Silvey snapped, still angry as the others gathered around the infant, "I told him to keep out of the cucumber basket. What did he throw at me for?" The wails continued. Skinny bent anxiously over his brother. "Come, buddy," he coaxed. "You're not hurt badly." "W-a-a-a-h!" The boys began to feel alarmed. "Where did he hit you?" "W-a-a-a-h!" Silvey looked down remorsefully.
Sid tightened his grasp on a handful of the fresh, green turf. John looked meaningly at Red Brown, who spoke up as he had been instructed. "I nom'nate John Fletcher. He was captain last year 'n he ought to be this." "Any one else?" asked Silvey. "I want to be captain," said Sid, curtly. "Can't nom'nate yourself," ruled the president. "Somebody's got to do it for you."
"Get stuck in the pea shooter and jam it all up. Got any money, Sid?" Sid had a penny. It was the day before the generous allowance from Mr. DuPree was due, and his finances verged upon bankruptcy. Silvey had another, and John contributed the remainder of his little hoard. That brought the total to four cents.
They strolled down the leafy walk. John's back tingled unpleasantly, for he expected a shower of missiles. Louise's weeping ceased, save for an occasional sniffle. At last Silvey roused himself from the amazed silence into which his chum's actions had thrown him, and seized upon the solution of the mystery. "Johnny an' Lou-i-ise! Johnny an' Lou-i-ise!" Louise flushed scarlet and bit her lip.
When the excitement had died away somewhat, Silvey spoke up. "Let's have a Punch and Judy show now, fellows." "Come on, dad," added John. "You can do it best." So for the second time that day, the room formed the theater for that ancient, comic tragedy.
"I've got two tickets," eagerly. "Want to come with me?" The school yard lay but a half-block ahead, so he went on hurriedly, "There's Silvey and the bunch. I've got to see 'em. Meet you on this corner after school." The truth of the matter was that not even his infatuation was equal to passing that mob of shouting, yelling urchins with a girl by his side.
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