"Think I did that on purpose?" he cried in vast good nature. "That I
was spying on you? That I waited until you started to climb up here
and that then I popped my head up just at the same time? All on
purpose?"
"That's just exactly what I do think!" Terry told him hotly. "You--you
big smarty! Everywhere I go, have you got to keep showing up?"
"I'll tell you something," said Steve. "If I had climbed up here just
to give you a little surprise party; if I had known you were there and
that I could have poked my head up just as you did yours--know what I
would have done?"
"What?" Terry in her curiosity condescended to ask.
"I'd have kissed the prettiest girl I ever saw!" he chuckled. "Honest
to grandma! That's just what I'd have done. As it was, you half
scared me out of my wits; I came as close as you please to going over
backward and breaking my neck."
"Not as close as I please. And as for kissing me, Long Steve Packard,
you just try that on sometime when you want your face slapped good and
hard and a bullet pumped into you besides!"
"Mean it?" grinned Steve.
"I most certainly do," she retorted emphatically.
"Offered merely as information?" he wanted to know. "Or as a dare? Or
an invitation?"
When she did not reply at once but contented herself by putting a deal
of eloquence into a look--which, by the way, had no visible effect upon
his rising good humor--he went on to remark:
"If you just slapped my face it would be worth it.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178