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 "Of course you don't, but you're not cursed with fat, Hop. It's a terrible thing to be cursed with fat," he said sadly.

"It's a terrible thing to be cursed with a fat head," replied Hop severely. "You've got about as much chance of getting on the baseball team as I have of—of—" But Hop couldn't think of a satisfactory simile and so changed the subject. "Say, what's Nod Turner been doing to Elk Thurston?"

"I don't know. I heard something about Elk's bicycle, but—"

"Well, Elk's as sore as a pup about something, and—For goodness' sake, put that ball away before you break something! How the dickens did I ever get hitched up with an idiot like you, anyway, I'd like to know!"

"Providence was watching over you, old chap," answered Kewpie cheerfully. "As unworthy as you are—"

"Dry up," laughed Hop, "and see if you can keep still long enough for me to find out why Johnny gave me only eighty-four on this theme."

"Johnny has an awful crust," said Kewpie sympathetically. "Wonder what he marked