“I forgot that. Do you like it?”
“Yes, pretty well. They’re awfully nice to me there and I guess I was lucky to get a job with them. Of course, though, I’d like mighty well to—to play hockey and football and things, you see.”
“That’s tough, isn’t it?” said Sidney sympathetically. “I suppose—I mean—well, you have to do it, don’t you?”
“Yes,” returned Tom. “It pays for my room. I live down on Locust Street, by the railroad.” He said this with just a trace of defiance and watched to see how Sidney would take it. Probably he wouldn’t be very anxious to pursue the acquaintance of a fellow who lived in such an unfashionable part of town. But if Sidney was shocked or surprised he certainly didn’t show it.
“That must be pretty good fun,” he said, “living all by yourself like that. You don’t have to tell anyone where you’re going or anything, do you? And you can stay out as late as you like, too! I’d like to be able to do that. Say, I think you’re a plucky kid to work like you do and earn money. I wonder if I could if I had to?” He was silent a moment, turning the matter over in his mind and frowning a little. “I don’t believe so,” he said finally. “I guess I’d just starve to death if it came to earning my living!”
Tom had no views on the subject and so asked about Sidney’s injury.
“Doc says I can go out in three or four days. He’s a bit of an old granny, I think. I wish he had to sit around here with his shoulder done up in a vise! And after I get out I’m not to use that arm for nearly two weeks. Hang it, by the time I can do anything they’ll have the hockey team all made up!” And he kicked disgustedly at the wrapping paper which had fallen from his knees. “A fellow was in here this afternoon and he said the ice was bully. Say, do you folks keep hockey sticks?”
“No, just skates,” said Tom.
“I should think you would. You’d sell a lot of them. The only place where you can get them is Merrill’s. Why don’t you get Cummings and Wright to keep them?”
“I’ll speak to Mr. Cummings about it,” said Tom. “We got a lot of dandy—dandy—what are those things you slide down the snow on? The things that are like sleds without any runners?”