"Will you lend me a ladder?" went on Bert.
"Certainly, my lad. The ladder is in the cow-shed yonder. But you'll
have to raise it yourself, or get somebody to raise it for you. My back
is too old and stiff for such work."
"I'll try it alone first," answered the boy.
He soon had the long ladder out and was dragging it across the common.
It was very heavy and he wondered who he could get to help him raise it.
Just then Danny Rugg came along.
"What are you doing with old Roscoe's ladder?" he asked.
Bert was on the point of telling Danny it was none of his business, but
he paused and reflected. He wanted no more quarrels with the big boy.
"I am going to get our cat down from the barn roof," he answered.
"Humph!"
"Do you want to help me raise the ladder, Danny?"
"Me? Not much! You can raise your own ladder."
"All right, I will, if you don't want to help me," said Bert, the blood
rushing to his face.
"So that's your cat, is it?" cried Danny, looking toward the barn. "I
wouldn't have such a black beast as that! We've got a real Maltese at
our house.
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