CHAPTER XXII

A TRANSACTION IN MUMPS


"Don't you come near me," screamed Billy, sauntering. slowly and
deliberately toward the dividing fence; "keep way f'om me; they's
ketchin'."

Jimmy was sitting on his front steps and the proverbial red flag
could not have excited a bull to quicker action. He hopped down
the steps and ran across his own yard toward Billy as fast as
his short, fat legs, could carry him.

"Git 'way f'om me; you'll ketch 'em if you teches me," warned
Billy; "an' you too little to have 'em," and he waved an
authoritative hand at the other child. But Jimmy's curiosity
was aroused to the highest pitch. He promptly jumped the
fence and gazed at his chum with critical admiration.

"What's the matter," he inquired, "you got the toothache?"

"Toothache!" was the scornful echo, "well, I reckon not. Git
back; don't you tech 'em; you ain't ol' 'nough to have 'em."

Billy's head was swathed in a huge, white cloth; his usually
lean little cheeks were puffed out till he resembled a young