Several boys noisily entered the car, Gus leading the crowd. As he caught sight of the four boys he hastened down the aisle and, stopping in front of Dan, looked insolently at him and then in his loudest tones began to shout, “Co’ boss! Co’ boss! Co’ boss!” CHAPTER XXIII AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR Above the noisy greetings of the boys the sneering words of Gus Kiggins were plainly heard. Instinctively the boys turned and looked at Dan, but if he was aware of the taunt he did not manifest his feelings, except that his face flushed slightly. “How did you find the hog business, Gus?” inquired Ned angrily, as he faced the boisterous bully. “You’ve said enough about that,” retorted Gus hotly. “Have I?” laughed Ned, quick to see the impression he had made. “If I have I am glad of it. It’s about the only way one can drive an idea into some heads, you know.” Ned spoke quietly, but his anger was evident to all the boys. “At any rate I don’t carry the marks of my trade around with me!” declared Gus. “I don’t wear pigskin boots――――” “You don’t have to wear them,” broke in Ned glibly. “What are you fellows laughing at?” demanded Gus fiercely, as he turned to face the boys, who had broken into a shout at Ned’s words. “I don’t see anything funny in what Ned said.” “That’s the funniest part of the whole thing, Gus,” said Hodge. “Well, I guess if I wanted to I could rake up some things about every one of you that wouldn’t sound very pretty.” “Go ahead,” called Smith. “Is that the reason why you called out as you did when you came into the car?” asked Ned. “He looked the part. That’s why I said what I did.” “Every man does that more or less. My father says he can tell a preacher before the man says a word. So he can pick out a lawyer or a business man before a word is spoken. I suppose a fellow that comes from the country does carry around with him a few of the marks of his trade the same as everyone does, but if I lived where Dan does I wouldn’t think of apologizing. I’d be proud of it. Gus, does a man that makes his living sticking hogs come to look like his trade the same as a preacher or a lawyer or a business man?” A shout of laughter caused Ned to look about him in pretended astonishment. Gus Kiggins settled back in his seat, his face glowering with anger. But he soon became silent, as he well knew that he was no match for Ned in such a contest. “Queer about Gus,” said Ned to Dan after the journey was resumed. “Last year he wasn’t so bad.” “What has changed him?” inquired Dan. “I give it up. He seems to be almost insanely jealous of you.” “Of me?” Dan laughed a little bitterly as he spoke. “I know, of course, that he hates me, but I hadn’t thought of his being jealous. What have I got to make him feel that way?” “An arm,” laughed Ned. “You mean my pitching arm?” “Of course. You know, he had it all fixed, as he thought, to be the pitcher on the nine this spring.”