“Not in those words, but Dan knew what I meant. Then I told him that he could help Walter, and I felt that if he should get my boy into a steadier way of working I’d be glad to pay him a good deal more than the amount his year at the Tait School will cost me. I put it so strongly that at last Dan agreed to try it a year. If I should not be satisfied then he is to leave the school and call off the bargain and he even suggested that he would pay back what I might have advanced——”
“He couldn’t pay it. He hasn’t any money.”
“Not just now. He’ll have plenty later. Likewise, he struck out fifteen men in the Benson game!” Mr. Borden added laughingly as he arose. “Oh, it’s Walter’s chance as well as Dan’s, but I don’t want you to tell Walter what I have just now told you. It might spoil my plan.”
“I think Walter is a good boy. I can’t understand you when you find so much fault with your own flesh and blood.”
“Mother,” said Mr. Borden softly, “sometimes it costs one more to be true than it does to say or do pleasing things. Ever think of that?”
“Of course I have, but I don’t see what that has to do with Walter.”
“Trust me—you will see it and more clearly than I do now.”
Meanwhile Walter had gone to Dan’s home, and as he entered the yard he saw his friend just coming out of the barn. He was carrying a pail of milk in each hand and his appearance, dressed as he was in his overalls and without any hat, for the first time impressed his friend with a vague sense of unfitness. What would Sinclair Bradley (called “Sin” by his fellows for more reasons than one) say if he should see Walter’s new roommate in his present garb? Walter vaguely thought also of the remarks which others of his classmates might make, but his feeling of vague uneasiness speedily departed as he ran forward to greet Dan. The thought of fifteen strike-outs was vastly stronger at the moment than that of the remarks of his friends over Dan’s somewhat uncouth appearance.
“Hello, Dan!” called Walter lightly as he approached. “I’ve heard the good news! You’re going to the Tait School with me this fall.”