"Say, Ike--has he ever paid you for havin' that took ?" Mr.Peters, who was the town photographer, reddened, hesitated, and then stammered, "Why, no, he ain't, yet." "Humph!" grunted Higgins.

No one else said anything.

One or two took out pocket memorandum books and went over some figures entered therein.
Judging by their faces the results of these calculations were not pleasing.

Obed was the first to break the painful silence: "Well!" he exclaimed, sarcastically; "ain't nobody got nothin' to say?
If they ain't, I have.

Or, at any rate, I've got somethin' to do." And he rose and started to put on his coat.
"Hi! hold on a minute, Obed, you loon!" cried Higgins.