Noddy went to his room, put on another suit after doffing his bicycle clothes, and then ordered one of the maids to get him something to eat. After a hasty meal he left the house.
“I wonder if I couldn’t borrow some money from Tom Judson,” mused Noddy, as he reached the centre of the town, and proceeded along the streets filled with people coming home from work. “He must be at the mill office yet. I’ll try, any how.”
Tom, the son of Amos Judson, who owned a large iron mill in Cresville, was a young man whose acquaintance Noddy had made some time before. Ordinarily Tom was well supplied with money.
Noddy found Tom in the mill office. It was about closing time.
“Hello, Tom!” greeted Noddy.
“Hello, yourself!” responded Tom, genially.
“Tom,” went on Noddy rapidly, seeing there was no one within hearing, “can you lend me three hundred dollars? I need it to pay a bill with in a hurry, and I haven’t time to go home. The governor would let me have it for the asking. I’ll pay you back in a couple of days.”
For answer Tom slowly turned one pocket after another inside out.
“Dead broke!” he laughed. “Just paid my board bill and I can’t get any cash until Saturday night. Sorry.”