Part 16 (2/2)
”Didn't I tell you he took my place away from me?”
”How could he do that? I am sure Mr. Sumner would have kept you at work, if you had done right.”
”Didn't I do right?” bl.u.s.tered d.i.c.k Ferris.
”Hardly.”
”What was wrong?”
”You wouldn't get up the day before yesterday, although I called you twice.”
”Well, I was to a sparring match the night before, and I was tired out.”
”You should have stayed at home, d.i.c.k.”
”Huh! you don't want a fellow to have any fun!” growled the boy.
”Oh, yes I do, but not the kind that is going to lose you your place.
What do you intend to do, now?”
”Oh, I'll find something else to do,” replied Ferris, in a careless fas.h.i.+on.
”I cannot support you in idleness, even if you are my dead sister's son,” went on Mrs. Ricket. ”You haven't paid me any board now in eight weeks.”
”Only six, Aunt Amanda.”
”No, it is eight. I have it on my account book. I don't see why you let it run, it is so little, only three dollars a week. That Carson pays me five, and he has not so good a room.”
”There goes that Carson again,” stormed d.i.c.k Ferris. ”I don't want to hear a word more. He's a tramp and a thief and you'll be sorry you took him in before a great while.”
With this speech on his lips, d.i.c.k Ferris walked across the parlor, threw open the door--and confronted Hal.
CHAPTER VIII.
FELIX HARDWICK IS ASTONISHED.
d.i.c.k Ferris started back on catching sight of Hal, who stood on the bottom step of the stairs.
”You!”
”Yes, d.i.c.k Ferris,” returned Hal, coolly. ”And let me say that I overheard your conversation with Mrs. Ricket, your aunt.”
Ferris changed color.
”Been playing the spy, eh?” he sneered.
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