on't you wish you could grab it, Fenton?" mocked the grinning
bully.

CHAPTER XVII

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

Fred felt a bitter sense of disappointment when he found that the bully
did not have the slightest intention of helping him get out of the
limestone pit. When Buck snatched the vine away, he understood plainly
enough that all of his slow work in cutting the trailer had been a
farce. The cunning bully had done it just to work up his old-time rival
with false hopes.

"You don't seem so mighty glad to get a helping hand, Fenton?" sneered
Buck, as he failed to get a "rise" to repeated false casts.

"I'd take it quick enough, if I thought you meant to help me out, Buck,"
Fred observed, grimly.

"Well, I like that, now," tormented the other. "Here, look at me
borrowin' a knife, and going to all that trouble to trim that vine off;
and now he just throws it up to me that he don't put any faith in me.
Seems like they all look on poor old Buck Lemington with suspicion.
Everything that goes crooked in the old village they blame on him, too.
It's a shame, that's what; and d'ye know, Fred Fenton, I somehow feel
like you're to blame for most of my troubles."

"I don't see how you make that out, Buck," remarked Fred.

"Up to the time you blew in here things sorter worked pretty nice with
me. The fellers never gave me much trouble; and Flo Temple, she used to
be glad to have me take her to places. But all that changed when Fred
Fenton struck town. Since then I've had the toughest luck ever. And
sure, I just ought to love you for all you done for me; but I don't
happen to be built that way; see?"

Fred made no answer. What was the use of his appealing to a fellow who
had hardened his heart to every decent feeling? Plainly Buck only talked
for the sake of hearing his enemy plead; and Fred was determined he
would not lower himself any more, to ask favors of this vindictive boy.

"Now, I didn't have anything to do with you getting caught in such a
pretty trap, and you know it just as well as I do, Fenton. If they say
so in town, you'd better set 'em straight. There are a few things
happens that Buck Lemington ain't responsible for, and this here's one
of the same."

He waited, as if expecting a reply, but Fred had his lips grimly set,
and would not utter one word; so presently Buck went on:

"Now, seein' that I didn't do you this sweet trick, I'm not responsible
if you stay there all night; am I? Think I want to ta