The interest of Eddie Grant and his two companions increased. They seemed to understand that Mr. Nocker had them especially in mind.
“There are some extensive patches of blueberries growing about my property on the lake,” continued the deacon. “Every year up to now I have given permits to certain people to pick all they wanted, and send the results down to the canning factory here in Cliffwood. This season, although the crop I am told is an extra large one, no one has applied for permission to pick it. So I propose that as many boys as wish may spend a portion of their camp time gathering blueberries. I will make arrangements to get them down here, and each boy will be credited with his earnings, which will go to repay the money I agree to advance on tickets and other expenses.”
At that Eddie Grant jumped to his feet with a vim.
“There are some of us here, Mr. Nocker,” he exclaimed, eagerly, “who want to go on this trip, but didn’t feel that we could afford to spend the money that we’ll need a little later for clothes or somethin’. We’ll be mighty willin’ to pick berries, or do anything like that, to help pay our share of the expenses. Isn’t that so, boys?”
“It sure is!” answered one of his mates, and the other nodded his head vigorously, being too agitated to use his voice.
“Well,” continued the deacon, with another smile of satisfaction as though he truly enjoyed being the messenger of good news. “I’ll leave it to you to decide. If your treasury doesn’t hold enough ready cash I’d be willing to help out, or start a collection to tide over.”
“Oh! we couldn’t stand for that, sir!” exclaimed Leslie Capes, quickly. “Nearly all of us can raise the amount needed; and your plan will settle the share of those for whom the expense would be too great. Taking up a collection sounds too much like charity. We’ve got something left from the proceeds of our minstrel entertainment, for one thing, that could be loaned to any member in good standing, to be repaid after we came back from the camp. None of us who hasn’t the money would mind working for it, but I’m sure I can speak for all and say not one of us wants it given to him.”
“There’s another thing I want to mention,” called back the deacon from the open door just before he vanished, “and that is, if you conclude to accept my offer and camp on Bass Island up at Lake Russabaga, you must beware of that thief!”
The boys stared at each other on hearing this, especially since the deacon did not stay to explain what he meant. After he had withdrawn there was considerable discussion as to what his mysterious words signified.
“What sort of people live up that way, anyhow,” one boy asked, “for him to tell us to look out for that thief?”