Page:Frank Packard - On the Iron at Big Cloud.djvu/320

 for it. Will the boys make him? Oh, will they! Give them the chance. That's the way to handle it. I told you I'd help you. Now, make your spiel."

MacDonald turned to the group on the platform. "Dutchy'll arbitrate!" he cried.

At this the men began to push forward, but Dutchy stopped them. "Vait as you iss! Ven der—der—hang dot word—iss, den iss it. Vait!"

They waited, and Dutchy began to count on his fingers. "Dere iss sixteen dot breakfasted didn'd," he began. "Dot—iss—iss"

"Average 'em up at a quarter apiece," prompted MacDonald in a whisper. "That makes four dollars."

"Iss four dollars—yess," went on Dutchy. "Vell, I vant dot. Dere iss der crews dot in-came und out-vent und didn'd eat ven der door vas closed. Dot iss two dollars—yess? Vell, I vant dot."

The men came to, and a roar of derision rent the air, in the face of which even Dutchy was a little shaken.

"Stand pat," encouraged MacDonald. "You've got them coming and going."

Dutchy held up his hand for silence. "Dere iss der sixteen over again yet dot dinnered didn'd. Dot iss four dollars—yess? Vell, I vant dot. Dot iss four und two and four. Dot iss ten dollars—don'd it? Veil, I vant dot, und den you come in—yess, one py one—for a quarter py each."

Then, amid the storm of abuse and jeers that greeted Dutchy's ultimatum, MacDonald, with a