"Won't you take me in partnership, then?" asked Walter.
Tom smiled.
"I don't think I could do that," he answered. "Not to keep you waiting, Squire Hudson has made me a business proposal this afternoon."
All were surprised and looked to Tom for an explanation.
"He offers to advance me two hundred dollars for a year, to help me out to California."
"Squire Hudson makes this offer to a boy of your age?" said his father slowly.
"Yes, or rather he makes the offer to you."
"To me?"
"Perhaps you will think me selfish for even mentioning it," said Tom rapidly, in a hurry to explain fully now that the ice was broken. "He will advance the money, on condition that you increase the mortgage on the farm to twenty-two hundred dollars."
Mr. Nelson looked blank.