tage of her.
Especially these here men and boys."

"You just bet they are!" Margery agreed heartily. "They're always trying
to get the best of us! But just let me tell you one thing: You needn't
think I'm not going to get that nickel, because I am!"

[Illustration]

PART TWO

THE next day Margery saw nothing of Willie until afternoon. Then she
caught him just as he was leaving his own gate. Apparently he did not
see her, and she had to gain his attention by calling him.

"Willie, wait a minute. I want to ask you something."

Willie seemed to be in a great hurry. Nevertheless, he paused.

"Well?"

"Did your mother pay you that dime yesterday?"

"What dime?"

"That dime for those two quarts of berries that you and me picked
together."

"O-oh!"

"Well, did she?"

"Did she? Of course she did!"

"Well, have you got my nickel?"

Willie looked at her scornfully.

"Of course I've got your nickel! Do you suppose I eat 'em?"

Margery was very sure that that was exactly what he would like to do
with both their nickels--transmuted, that is to say, into eatable
commodities. But she didn't care to lose time on verbal quibbles. She
came to the point at once:

"Will you please give me my nickel now? I want it."

Willie squirmed impatiently.

"How can I give you your old nickel before I get the dime changed? I
don't see what you're in such a rush for! Besides, I'm in a hurry. I got
to see a fella."

Margery held out her hand.

"Give me the dime and Effie will change it for us. It won't take two
minutes."

"Effie nuthin'! What do you think I am? I tell you, you got to wait!
I'm in a hurry."

"And I tell you, Willie Jones, I'm not going to wait any longer! I've
been waiting ever since yesterday afternoon, and now I've got you I'm
going to stay right with you until you pay me!"

With a grunt of disgust Willie turned and ran. As the weakness of sex
and the helplessness of young ladyhood had not yet had time to settle
down upon her, Margery promptly ran after him. She was as good a runner
as he was any day, so he was mightily mistaken if he thought he was
going to get away by running. After a few moments he seemed to realize
this, for he drew up, panting, and, with a change of tactics, turned a
smiling face to Margery.

"Do you want to spend your nickel, Margery?"

Did she want to spend her nickel? What a question! Did he suppose she
wanted to punch a hole in it and hang it around her neck?

"