Deep down in his heart he was saying something like this:
“If the old skinflint doesn’t come to time I’ve got a good notion to adopt them both myself, and perhaps I will yet. One thing sure, they must never come to want. Why, it would be worth all it cost just to have that manly little chap around all the time.”
Before Dick and his uncle were ready to go it had all been settled.
“I’ll take a short lease on the Brandon place inside of half an hour,” announced Uncle Henry, positively, which showed that he was a man who never allowed the grass to grow under his feet when he had an object in view. “You can get settled tomorrow. We’ll keep the secret sacredly, and the town will only know you as Mrs. Smith. Then some time next week start the machinery moving.”
After Uncle Henry had hurried away to fulfill his part in the contract, Dick and Leslie stood outside the door to exchange a few words ere the latter walked off.
“The trap is set,” Leslie said, “and now we’ll see if the cunning old fox can be tempted to take the bait.”
CHAPTER VI
TAKING THE BAIT
When the great news concerning the boys of Cliffwood had circulated around town during the next few days it created no end of talk. Everywhere it caused the most intense excitement among the rising generation. Parents in particular commended the plan of Mr. Holwell as a means for gripping the restless activities of the town boys, and turning them into some more useful channel than loitering about the streets at night and playing all sorts of practical jokes.
At school it was the subject of talk wherever two or three fellows came together on the campus, or while in the classrooms during intermission.
Nearly every boy was in favor of the scheme. They talked it over and saw all manner of splendid possibilities looming up, for not only the long evenings of the coming winter but even during the spring and summer months.