"
"That's because you've got a new shirt, is it?" sneered Mike.
"It isn't mine."
"That's what I thought. Who did you steal it from?"
"Do you mean to insult me, Mike Donovan?" demanded Paul, angrily.
"Just as you like," said Mike, independently.
"If you want to know why I don't want to have anything to do with you, I
will tell you."
"Tell ahead."
"Because you're a thief."
"If you say that again, I'll lick you," said Mike, reddening with anger.
"It's true. You stole my basket of candy the other day, and that isn't
the only time you've been caught stealing."
"I'll give you the worst licking you ever had. Do you want to fight?"
said Mike, flourishing his fist.
"No, I don't," said Paul. "Some time when I haven't a bundle, I'll
accommodate you."
"You're a coward!" sneered Mike, gaining courage as he saw Paul was not
disposed for an encounter.
"I don't think I am," said Paul, coolly.
"I'll hold your shirt," said Mike's companion, with a grin, "if you want
to fight."
Paul, however, did not care to intrust the shirt to a stranger of so
unprepossessing an appearance.
He, therefore, attempted to pass on. But Mike, encouraged by his
reluctance, stepped up and shook his fist within an inch of Paul's nose,
calling him at the same time a coward. This was too much for Paul's
self-restraint. He dropped the shirt and pitched into Mike in so
scientific a manner that the latter was compelled to retreat, and
finally to flee at the top of his speed, not without having first
received several pretty hard blows.
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