"The big bill, wasn't it prime, Jasper!"
"What are you talking about, Joe?" cried Jasper, stopping his play with
Prince, as he saw Joel was terribly in earnest over something.
"Why, the big bill I gave you, that Mr. Cabot sent. Hurrah! Wasn't it
fine!" Joel kicked up his heels and emitted a whistle that made Polly clap
her hands over her ears.
"What big bill?" exclaimed Jasper. "What on earth are you talking about,
Joe?"
Joel tumbled out of the hammock and took long leaps across the piazza
floor, which landed him in front of Jasper.
"Why, that ten-dollar bill I gave you that Mr. Cabot sent to the post
office," he said, in a breath.
"You didn't give me any ten-dollar bill," said Jasper, all in a puzzle;
"you've been dreaming, Joe."
"I--I laid it down right by you." Joe could only gasp the words now.
"I didn't see it," said Jasper.
X
TROUBLE FOR JOEL
There was an awful pause, for everybody caught the last words. Joel slid to
the floor in a little heap. Mrs. Chatterton spoke up quickly.
"It's easy enough to see where it went," and she gave a little laugh.
"Come on, Joe." Jasper sprang up and shook Joel's arm. "We'll go and hunt
for it."
"I'll go, too." Van and Percy screamed it together. Now that any trouble
had come to Joel, each vied with the other to see which could work the
faster to help matters.
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