"No."
"Any of the other boys?"
"Not that I know of."
"Then you were alone." Gus Plum drew a sigh of relief. "Now, let us come to terms, by all means. I'll do the square thing, and you'll have all the pocket money you want."
"But how much are you willing to give me?" queried Dave, his curiosity aroused to its highest pitch.
"I'll give you"—the bully paused, to add impressiveness to his words—"I'll give you fifty dollars."
"Fifty dollars!" ejaculated Dave. He was bewildered by the answer. He had expected Plum to name a dollar or two at the most.
"Ain't that enough?"
"Do you think it is enough?" asked the country boy. He scarcely knew what to say. He was trying to study the bully's face.
"Well—er—if you'll give me your solemn word not to whisper a word—not a word, remember—I'll make it a—a hundred dollars."