And before she could answer he said, "Say, Ellen--don't be mad; honest I got somepin." "Who's it about ?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Me." "That's not much--who else ?" "Elmer Hendricks!" "Who else ?" The girl was halfway turned around when she spoke.
"Bob--Bob Hendricks," replied the boy.
"Aw--Bob Hendricks--" returned the girl, in contempt.

Then she faced the boy and said, "What is it ?" "Come here 'n' I'll tell you." "I'll come this far." The girl took two steps.
"I got to whisper it, and you can't hear." "Well, 'tain't much." The girl dangled one bare foot hesitatingly.
"I'll come halfway," she added.
The boy made a mark in the dust of the road a few feet from him with his toe, and said, "Come to there." The girl shook her head, and spoke.

"Tell me part--'n' I'll see if it's good." "Me and Elmer an' Bob are goin' to run away!" The girl stepped to the toe mark and cried, "What ?" "Yes, sir--in the mornin'." He caught hold of the girl's arm awkwardly and swung her around to the opposite side of the pump-handle, and put her hands on it and began to pump.

She pumped with him as he puffed between the strokes, "Um' huh--we're going to hide in the provision wagons, under some saddles they is there and go--to--war!" The water was pouring into the bucket by the time he had got this out.

Their hands touched on the pump-handle.