“I must thank you for what you did for me,” went on Mart. “You are as brave as you are daring.”
“Don’t mention that, Mart. It was a pleasure to be of service to you. Let me know how I can serve you further.”
There was a silence, and the lad cast down his eyes.
“I must be frank with you,” he said at last. “I am without a friend in the world and likewise without a dollar.”
The young gymnast smiled faintly.
“My boy, allow me to contradict you,” he said. “Neither statement is true. I am your friend.”
The boy’s face lit up.
“I thought you would be my friend, you seemed so generous. And I wanted a small loan, so that I might get away from Mr. Porler. I never want to see that man again.”
“As I said before, what I have is at your service.”
“Will you loan me ten dollars?”