"That's Ralph Evans now," said Tom to himself. "Just wait till you see
these skates, old boy, and maybe you won't feel so smart!" And with
slow, cautious strokes, he made his way through laughing boys and
girls to a place just in front of the tall skater, coming toward him
down the broad white way. When Ralph was almost upon him, Tom paused
and in conspicuous silence, looked down at his shining skates.
"Hullo," said Ralph good naturedly, seizing Tom's arm and swinging
around. Then, taking in the situation with a careless glance, he
added, "Get a new pair of skates for Christmas?"
"'Jolly Ramblers,'" said Tom impressively, "the best 'Jolly Ramblers'
in the market!"
Ralph was a full half head the taller, but, as Tom delivered himself
of this speech with his head held high, he felt every inch as tall as
the boy before him.
If Ralph was deeply impressed he failed to show it, as he answered
carelessly, "Huh, that so? Pretty good little skates they are, the
'Jolly Ramblers!'"
"You said no game fellow would use any other make," said Tom hotly.
"O but that was nearly a year ago," said Ralph. "I got a new pair of
skates for Christmas, too," he added, as if it had just occurred to
him, "'Club House' skates, something new in the market just this
season. Just look at the curve of that skate, will you?" he added,
lifting a foot for inspection, "and that clamp that you couldn't shake
off if you had to! They're guaranteed for a year, too, and if anything
gives out, you get a new pair for nothing.
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