"Peamup ?" His host perceived that Verman had misunderstood him.

"Peanuts!" he exclaimed.

"My goodness! I didn't say I HAD any peanuts, did I?
I only said s'pose f'rinstance I DID have some.

My goodness! You don't expeck me to go round here all day workin' like a dog to make a good ole snake for you and then give you a bag o' peanuts to hire you to play with it, do you, Verman?
My goodness!" Verman's hand fell, with a little disappointment.
"Aw wi," he said, consenting to accept the snake without the bonus.
"That's the boy! NOW we're all right, Verman; and pretty soon I'm goin' to saw that rake-handle off for you, too; so's you can kind o' guide your good ole snake around with it; but first--well, first there's just one more thing's got to be done.

I'll show you--it won't take but a minute." Then, while Verman watched him wonderingly, he went to the can of white paint and dipped a brush therein.