“I haven’t thought much about that yet,” replied Dick, slowly. “I must say it sounds good to me. I believe I could get up a farce that would be full of fun, and clean fun at that. And Leslie, that money would come in mighty handy to me. I really need a new suit for one thing, and Grandpop’s pension spreads out pretty thin when it has to cover so much.”
“But every time I mention the fact that my Uncle Henry would be just tickled to lend you any sum you wanted, Dick——”
“That’s enough, Leslie,” hastily interrupted the other boy, laying a hand on his chum’s arm, while his voice trembled a little, though in the darkness no one could see the tears that gathered in his eyes. “I told you before I couldn’t come down to accepting charity, for that’s what it would really be, though both of you are mighty kind to offer such a thing.”
“Only a loan, Dick, you know; and you shouldn’t be so touchy over it.”
“Excuse me, Leslie,” said Dick, drawing in a long breath. “Perhaps most fellows would look at it that way, and accept your offer only too gladly. I might too if it was for my mother, or Sue; but not for myself. I’d rather go in patched clothes all my life than knuckle down. Oh, yes, I am proud, and perhaps foolish, but I just can’t help it, so don’t say any more.”
Evidently, Leslie knew his chum well enough to feel certain that argument would not change his determination, once he had set his mind on a certain course. On that account then, Leslie dropped the subject, though it was often troubling him; and he hoped some way would yet be found whereby the Horner family might be assisted without Dick feeling that he was an object of charity.
“What’s the report from the Brandon place tonight, Dick?” he asked, in order to turn the conversation into another channel, as well as satisfy his own curiosity.
“Everything is moving along as fine as silk,” his chum replied, cheerfully.
“Old Jed has seen little Billy again then, has he?” continued Leslie.
“Not a day passes during this fine weather but they meet,” he was told. “Why, it seems to me the old man hurries home early in the afternoon more than he used to do, just as if he was looking forward to seeing the little chap come along through the bushes.”