“All right, Mr. Parker,” said Jerry’s father, promptly. “When do you want him to come?”
“To-morrow, if he can. I’ll pay you five dollars a week.”
“Very well. You can pay Jerry.”
So it was settled, and every afternoon the young oarsman went over to the Parker place, which bordered on the lake.
Here Jerry would practice in secret in a little cove seldom visited by any boats.
As the time grew close for the race between Jerry and Si Peters the boat clubs began to bet on their favorites.
So sure were the Rockpointers that they would win, that they gave the Lakeview people heavy odds.
Together the two clubs put up as a trophy a silver cup, which later on would be engraved with the name of the winner.
Of course, Jerry’s father soon found out what his son was doing.
But he would not break his bargain with Mr. Parker, and so let Jerry practice every afternoon, feeling sure that Jerry would not take the money the rich manufacturer had offered.