"I know vot you mean. You mean you vos der fool und der hoss----"
"Look heah now, Mr. Dutchy, I wants yo' to understand dat I ain't no fool."
"Vell, Mr. Vight, I dake your vord for dot, hey? Now, vot you do ven you vos a putler, hey?"
And from that point the playlet went on as originally intended; the two finally winding up when a postman's whistle was heard and each got a letter from the same man, stating the one to arrive first at a certain house could have a job. Both started at the same time and each tripped the other up. Then both left the stage on hands and knees, each trying to keep the other back. It was a truly comical wind-up, and when the curtain went down there was a thunder of applause.
"Dave, it was great!" cried Roger. "You acted the Dutchman to perfection, and Plum was the darky to a T!"
"That's true," added Phil. "But say, didn't you change that coach scene some?"
"Well, rather," put in Gus. "We had to do it on account of----"
"Link Merwell," finished Dave. "That's another black mark I am going to put down to his account."
After it was at an end the entertainment was voted the best yet given at Oak Hall. Of course there had been a few small hitches, such as a wig falling off of one actor and another breaking a guitar string just when he was playing, but those did not count.
"It was splendid!" said Jessie to Dave, when they met.
"I am glad you liked it," he answered. "I know all the fellows did their best."
"That table scene made me nearly die laughing," said Laura.
"That came in rather unexpectedly, Laura. It wasn't on the programme. I think Link Merwell is responsible for it." And then her brother told of what had been discovered--the legs of the table and chairs nearly split in two.
"He must be a thoroughly bad fellow," was Jessie's comment.
"He is, and he would do almost anything to get me and some of the other students into trouble," returned Dave.
Vera and Mary were waiting to speak to some of the boys, and Vera laughed heartily when she saw Dave.
"Oh, but you make a fine German!" she said. "I think you ought to go on the stage." And then she complimented Phil, Roger, and some of the others whom she knew.
Mr. Porter had arranged to remain at the hotel over night with his party. They left for Oakdale shortly after the entertainment, and Vera, Mary, and some others went with them, in carriages of their own. Dave noticed that Jessie was not herself, and when they were alone in a hallway for a moment asked the reason.
