"You were always down on him and for nothing," said Frank. "I think he is all right. And he has the money, too."
"Well, you don't want to sponge, do you?" asked Bill.
"Of course not!" said Frank, flushing. "You are such a nut about things! Of course I don't mean sponge, but money is the only thing that will put you in right at school or anywhere else."
"That sounds just like Jardin," replied Bill. "Well, if that is so, what do you suppose I am going to do on about nine cents a week? What are you going to do yourself?"
"I don't know, but if there is any money to be had, I am going to get it."
"How are you going to go about it?" asked Bill as he stepped into the Swallow and prepared to start.
"I don't know," answered Frank, still sitting with his chin in his hands. "Beg it, or borrow it, or steal it."
Bill threw in the clutch and the Swallow sped away.
Frank was left to his own bitter thoughts. Money! He had brooded over his lack of it and had remembered Jardin's assurance that to have a good time in school he must have a pocketful of money at all times. Frank had changed his mind about school. He was going for the good time he expected to have. He only wished that he was going with Jardin instead of with Bill Sherman. What Bill had said about sponging had stung him. Now he knew that he must obtain what he wanted somehow and somewhere. His mother could not give it to him; his father would not. He had nothing to sell that was of any value. Yes, there was one thing. He could pawn his watch, that beautiful watch that had been his grandfather's and which he was to use when he was twenty-one. In the meantime it was his, left him by his grandfather's will. On the spur of the moment he rose and hurried into the house. Why had he not thought of it before? It was a repeater, that watch, and his grandfather had paid nearly a thousand dollars for it. He would sell it. He hurried into the house and to his mother's room: he knew where she always kept her jewel case hidden. The watch was there and putting it in his pocket, Frank hurried out of the house.
Bill and Lee took it slowly as usual going back to school, stopping to watch the big observation balloon come down to anchor.