“I don’t know how many we want; but I’m goin’ to pay for the whole crowd.”
The waiter took a check from among a number of others in his apron pocket, and placed it before the generous host, as if to intimate that it would be better to settle in advance, while a look of consternation, which he tried in vain to hide, came upon Master Green’s face as his eyes rested on the printed figures.
Bill leaned over in order to see more clearly, and then gave vent to a whistle of astonishment; but Bob was determined the waiter should not think him unaccustomed to such bills, and with no little difficulty counted out the required amount.
“How much was it?” Tom asked anxiously, when the waiter had disappeared.
“A dollar and a quarter!”
“What?”
“That’s what I said. I tell you they oughter bring along a slat of stuff if they’re goin’ to charge that much for it. I was countin’ on havin’ a pretty swell dinner; but I guess the chowder is ’bout as far as we’ll go if things keep on at this rate.”
“Well, I reckon they give a good deal, an’ that’s why the price is so high,” Bill said in a soothing tone, and once more made an attack upon the crackers. “Of course if a feller gets all he can eat, I don’t know as it’s very much, considerin’ we’re down to Coney Island.”
Now Josiah was more distressed than ever, because he had added to the liabilities of his friends, and he whispered to Bob:—
“If you’re runnin’ short I can let you have some.”