But Skinny didn't say a word, only stood there staring and he gulped as if he was trying to swallow something.

Gee, I was all kind of shaky myself now, because I saw Mr.Ellsworth looked at him in a funny way--like a fellow looks at the sun--kind of.

As if he was studying him--_you_ know.
Then Connie said, "Why in the dickens don't you speak up, Skinny?
If you know anything about it, why don't you say so?
Do you want to get us all in Dutch ?" I could see that Skinny was just trying as hard as he could to speak, but couldn't on account of that lump in his throat.

I know it was none of my business, but I just couldn't keep still any longer, so I said right out: "The reason he doesn't speak is because he _can't_.

Haven't you got sense enough to see that?
He thought Mr.Ellsworth was going to hand him the medal and you were crazy enough to let him think so.