“Why don’t you fellows mix in with them a bit?” asked Jake Porter of Frank, Bart and Bill a little later.
“Because I don’t want to,” said Frank. “We agreed that they’d try to run things here, and they have. They’re too fresh. And you were one of those, Jake, to agree to snub ’em. Now you’re sticking up for ’em.”
“I know; but I’ve found out they aren’t half bad. They’re real jolly.”
“I like Jerry all right,” confessed Bart. “He did me a good turn. Maybe it’s time to make better friends with them, Frank.”
“Not for me! You fellows can do what you like!” exclaimed the headstrong youth.
“Ned and Bob are all right, too,” said Bill Hamilton. “I was broke the other day and Bob lent me some money.”
“And you took it?” asked Frank, sharply.
“Of course. Why not?”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“You weren’t around, and I wasn’t going to cut off my nose to spite my face. I think maybe we made a mistake, Frank.”