“It’s jest as Shiner says,” replied Ben, rubbing the end of his nose thoughtfully, as if he believed that gave him more of an air of wisdom. “You couldn’t git as far as Newark in a week, ’less you walked, an’ you’d better not try it.”
“But what shall I do?” asked Paul, in such distress that even the candy failed to soothe him.
“I don’t see but one way,” said Johnny, gravely, as he took the lump of sweetness from his mouth, lest it should dissolve while he was not able to give it his undivided attention, and he thus lose a portion of the treat. “You’ll have to stay here till yer earn money enough ter pay for a whole ticket.”
“But how much will that be?” asked Paul, astounded at the careless way with which the boy spoke of such an undertaking.
“I dunno; but it’ll be a good deal. We’ll find out termorrer.” Then Johnny turned his attention to the candy again.
“But I can’t earn any money;” and now Paul was on the verge of crying.
“Of course yer can,” replied Ben, decidedly. “Yer can sell papers like Shiner does, or yer can get a box, an’ go inter the same bizness I’m in. Ef yer smart, yer’ll git three or four dollars a week, ’cordin’ to the weather.”
Paul opened his eyes wide with surprise as this enormous amount was spoken of, and he almost forgot his grief in the visions of wealth that floated through his brain.
“Shiner an’ I hain’t got much money in our pockets,” continued Ben, “’cause we’re buyin’ some real estate, an’ we put it all in that ’bout as fast as we git it; but we can patch up an’ lend you enough to start with, an’ you can pay it back when you git the chance.”
Surely Paul thought he was fortunate in having made the acquaintance of two boys who were so well off in this world’s goods as Ben and Johnny, and his position did not seem nearly as bad as it had half an hour ago, even though it was nearly dark, and he had no idea where he should sleep that night.