Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-03-07
CHAPTER XXI.
A Transaction in Mumps.

~ toward the dividing fence; keep
way rom me; they's ketchin'."
Jimmy was sitting on his front steps
and the proverbial red flag could not
have excited q bull to quicker action.
He hoped down the steps and ran
across his own yard toward Billy as
fast as his short, fat legs could carry
him.
Cit way rom me; you II ketch 'em
II you teches me-" warned Billy; IAN
you too little to have en-" and he
waved an authoritative hand at the
other child. But Jimmy's curiosity was
aroused to the highest pitch. He
promptly jumped the fence and gazed
at his chum with critical admiration.
What's the matter" he inquired,
you got the toothache?"
"Toothache!" was the scornful echo,
well, reckon not. Git back; don't
you tech EN-; you amt oil 'nough to
have EN-"
Billy's head was swathed in a huge,
white cloth; his usually lean little
cheeks we're pulled out till he resem-
bled a young hippopotamus, and his
pretty gray eyes were almost invisible.
You better git way rom me an
don't tech 'em, like tells you," he re-
iterated. Aunt Minerva say you amt
never had 'em an she say fer me to
make you keep way f'om me cause
you amt a OIL chile like what is"
you amt but SIX" retorted angry
Jimmy, and I'll be six next month:
you all time trying to 'suade little boys
to think you're bout a million years
old. You bout the funniest looking
kid they is"
Billy Electrically touched a distend.
ed cheek. These here is mumps," he
said impressively: AN when you got
EN- you can make grown folks do per-
zactly what you want 'em to. Aunt
Minerva IS in the kitchen right now
maxim me 'lasses custard il III be
good an stay right in the house an
don't come out here in the yard an
don't give you the mumps. Course /
can't tech that custard now cause
done come out here an It amt homer.
BILE; but she's maxim It jes' the same.
You better git way rom me an not
tech EN-; you too little to have 'em."
Are they easy to ketch?" asked the
other little boy eagerly; "lemme jest
tech em one time, Billy"
| Git way, tell you" warned the
latter with superior air. To increase
/ Jimmy's envy he continued: Grown
/ folks tries to see how nice they can be
/ to chillens what's got the humps. Aunt
Minerva amt been impedent to me to
| day; she femme do jest bout like
! please; 1t sho is one time you car
make grown folks step lively" He
looked at Jimmy meditatively. ut sho
is plumb pity you amt oil chile
! like what l is an can't have the
mumps. Don't you come amp closter &c
me-" he again warned. you too little
to have EN-"
I'll give you five pewees If you'll
lemme tech 'em SOS | can get 'em, >
pleaded the younger boy.
Billy hesitated. you mighty lit
tie" he began.
and my stoney." said the othel
child eagerly.
IF you was oil boy" said Billy
1T wouldn't make no diffunce; l dom
want to make yo' ma mad an Aunt
Minerva say for me to keep way f'on
you any how, though didn't make her
no promises"
Jimmy grew angry.
You're the stingiest Peter they is
William HILL" he Cried won't let no
body tech your old mups. My cousin
in Memphis 3 got the measles; yol
just walt till l git EN-"
Billy eyed him critically.
IF you was OIL" he was beginning
Jimmy thought he saw signs OF his
yielding.
And I'll give you my china egg
too" he quickly proposed.
We'll, jest one TECH" agreed Billy;
AN amt a-goin' to be 'sponsiblt
neither" and he poked out a swollen
jaw for Jimmy to touch.
key Rosenstein at this moment was
spied by the two little boys as he was
walking jauntily by the gate.
you better keep way f'om here
Goose-Grease," Jimmy yelled at him
you better get on the other side the
street. Billy here s got the humps
an he lemme tech 'em SOS / oan get
EN-, SOS my papa and mama II lemme
do just perzactly like l want ID; but
you're a Jew and Jews amt got nc
business to have the humps, so you
better get way. paid Billy bout q
million dollars worth to lemme tech
his mumps," he said proudly. Get
way; you can't have EN-"
key had promptly stopped at the
gate.
'Whatll you take. Billy, to lemme
get emp" he asked, his commercial
spirit at once aroused.
'Whatll you gimme?" asked he of
the salable commodity. with an eye to
a bargain.
key pulled out a piece of Irvine and
a blue glass bead from his pocket ano
offered them to the child with the
humps. These received a contemptu
GUS rejection.
you can do perzactIy like you
please when you got the mumps," In
simulated Jimmy, who had seemingly
allied himself with Billy as q partner
In business; grown folks bound to DC
what little boys want 'em TO when you
got the humps"
key Increased his bid by the stub
! OF lead pencil. but II was not until he
! had parted with hia MOE. .k.-..I =.