Mr. Amos Barrow, for such was the gentleman's name, listened attentively.
"And you think this would be a good investment?" he questioned.
"Yes, it's a good stand," said Van Pelt.
"But you ought to have some money with which to stock up."
"We'll work hard and build it up," said our hero. "I know that neighborhood well. Old Maxwell never 'tended to business. I'll go around and get twice as large a paper route as he ever had. And we can keep plenty of ten-cent paper-covered books, and all that."
"And we can keep things for school children, too," put in George Van Pelt. "There is a school near by, and many of the children pass the stand four times a day."
"Well, I'll give you fifty dollars, Nelson," said Mr. Barrow. "That will help you to buy the stand and give you fifteen dollars working capital."
"You can't give me the money, sir. But you can loan it to me."
"But why won't you let me give it to you?" laughed the stout gentleman. "Isn't my life worth that?"
"It isn't that, sir. I want to do this in a regular business fashion."