Part 23 (1/2)
”That is my business, too.”
”Don't git sa.s.sy.”
”I am not 'sa.s.sy,' as you call it. I intend, in the future, to mind my own business, and I want you to mind yours.”
”You had better leave Andy alone,” put in Chet, who saw that the s.h.i.+ftless man was working himself up into the worst possible humor. ”You never helped him, and he doesn't want anything to do with you.”
”Say, this ain't none o' your business, Chet Greene.”
”Andy is my friend.”
”Humph! he better not be!” snarled Josiah Graham. ”You ain't no fit boy fer n.o.buddy to go with--you the son o' a thief, an' mebbe wuss. I want you----Oh!”
What Josiah Graham wanted next was never made known, for just then he landed flat on his back in the gutter, where a well-directed blow from Chet's fist had sent him.
CHAPTER XV
THE START OF THE COOK EXPEDITION
If ever a man was surprised, that man was Josiah Graham. Even Andy was astonished, for he had not dreamed that Chet could be so quick-tempered.
”Oh, Chet, that was a hard blow!”
”He deserved it,” was Chet's answer. His voice was strained, and his face pale. ”I'll allow n.o.body to talk that way to me.”
”Yo--you young villain!” spluttered Josiah Graham, as he rolled over in the dirt of the gutter and picked himself up. ”I'll--I'll----”
”After this you keep a civil tongue in your head!” interrupted Chet. He still had his fists clenched.
”You--you----”
”If you call me any more names, I'll knock you down again.”
Chet's manner was so aggressive that Josiah Graham retreated several feet. A few persons had witnessed his fall, and a crowd began to collect.
”What's the trouble?”
”Is it a fight?”
”Do you want a policeman?”
”No, we don't want any policeman,” said Andy in alarm. ”Chet, we had better get out of this,” he whispered. ”If we don't, we'll all be taken to the station house!”
”Your uncle is the meanest man I ever met! He ought to have a sound thras.h.i.+ng!” answered Chet, recklessly.
”I know, but we don't want to have the police come down on us.”
”I've a good mind to have the law on yer!” howled the man who had been knocked down.