Ben stared at Conrad in surprise. He had just that amount, after sending home money to his mother, but he intended that afternoon to deposit three dollars of it in the savings bank, feeling that he ought to be laying up money while he was so favorably situated.
"How do you happen to be short of money?" he asked.
"That doesn't need telling. I have only four dollars a week pocket money, and I am pinched all the time."
"Then, supposing I lent you the money, how could you manage to pay me back out of this small allowance?"
"Oh, I expect to get some money in another way, but I cannot unless you lend me the money."
"Would you mind telling me how?"
"Why, the fact is, a fellow I know—that is, I have heard of him—has just drawn a prize of a thousand dollars in a Havana lottery. All he paid for his ticket was five dollars."
"And is this the way you expect to make some money?"
"Yes; I am almost sure of winning."
"Suppose you don't?"