BOTCHAN
should have asked me to also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. This is irritating!”
“That’s wire-pulling by Red Shirt,” he said. “I and Red Shirt cannot go along together, but they think you can be left as harmless.”
“I wouldn’t get along with that Red Shirt either. Consider me harmless, eh? They’re getting too gay with me.”
“You’re so simple and straight that they think they can handle you in any old way.”
“Worse still. I wouldn’t get along with him, I tell you.”
“Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived. Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank spots in the schedule hours at the school.”
“Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they can make me.”
On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the principal and
–253–
