"Quit it, Johnny, or you'll git fired!" "I don't give a damn if I do!" Johnny's full, young voice shouted ragefully.

"It'll save me firing myself.

Before I'll work with a bunch of yellow-bellied, pin-headed fools--" He threw a clod of dirt that caught Tex on the chin and filled his mouth so that he nearly choked, and a jagged pebble that hit Aleck just over the ear a glancing blow that sent him reeling.

The third was aimed at Bill, but Bill ducked in time, and the rock went on over his head and very nearly laid out Mary V's father, he whom the boys called "Sudden" for some inexplicable reason.
Mary V's father dodged successfully the rock, saw a couple of sheets of paper lying on the ground, and methodically picked them up before he advanced to where his men were trying to appear very busy with the horses, or with their ropes, or with anything save what had held their attention just previous to his coming.
All save Johnny, who was too mad to care a rap what old Sudden Selmer thought of him or did to him.

He went straight up to the boss.
"I'll thank you for that paper," he said hardily.