Part 27 (2/2)
But Gav saw an objection. ”The f.e.c.k of them,” he pointed out, ”will waur their siller on shows and things to eat, instead of on what we want them to buy.”
”So they will, the nasty sackets!” cried Corp.
”You couldna blame a laddie for buying Teuch and Tasty,” continued Gav with triumph, for he was a little jealous of Tommy.
”You couldna,” agreed Corp, ”no, I'll be dagont, if you could,” and his hand pressed his money feverishly.
”Deuteronomy!” roared Tommy, and Corp's hand jumped as if it had been caught in some other person's, pocket.
”But how are we to do?” he asked. ”If you like, I'll take Birkie and the Haggerty-Taggertys round the Muckley and fight ilka ane that doesna buy--”
”Corp,” said Tommy, calmly, ”I wonder at you. Do you no ken yet that the best plan is to leave a thing to me?”
”Blethering gowks that we are, of course it is!” cried Corp, and he turned almost fiercely upon Gav. ”Lippen all to him,” he said with grand confidence, ”he'll find a wy.”
And Tommy found a way. Birkie was the boy who bought the pack of cards.
He saw Tommy looking so-woe-begone that it was necessary to ask the reason.
”Oh, Birkie, lend me threepence,” sobbed Tommy, ”and I'll give you sixpence the morn.”
”You're daft,” said Birkie, ”there's no a laddie in Thrums that will have one single lonely bawbee the morn.”
”Him that buys the cards,” moaned Tommy, ”will never be without siller, for you tell auld folks fortunes on them at a penny every throw. Lend me threepence, Birkie. They cost a sic, and I have just--”
”Na, na,” said greedy Birkie, ”I'm no to be catched wi' chaff. If it's true, what you say, I'll buy the cards mysel'.”
Having thus got hold of him, Tommy led Birkie to a stand where the King of Egypt was telling fortunes with cards, and doing a roaring trade among the Jocks and Jennys. He also sold packs at sixpence each, and the elated Birkie was an immediate purchaser.
”You're no so clever as you think yoursel'!” he said triumphantly to Tommy, who replied with his inscrutable smile. But to his satellites he said, ”Not a soul will buy a fortune frae Birkie. I'll get thae cards for a penny afore next week's out.”
Francie Crabb found Tommy sn.i.g.g.e.ring to himself in the back wynd. ”What are you goucking at?” asked Francie, in surprise, for, as a rule, Tommy only laughed behind his face.
”I winna tell you,” chuckled Tommy, ”but what a bar, oh, what a divert!”
”Come on, tell me.”
”Well, it's at the man as is swallowing swords ahint the menagerie.”
”I see nothing to laugh at in that.”
”I'm no laughing at that. I'm laughing at him for selling the swords for ninepence the piece. Oh, what ignorant he is, oh, what a bar!”
”Ninepence is a mislaird price for a soord,” said Francie. ”I never gave ninepence.”
Tommy looked at him in the way that always made boys fidget with their fists.
”You're near as big a bar as him,” he said scornfully. ”Did you ever see the sword that's hanging on the wall in the backroom at the post-office?”
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