Harwood's "sly impertinence" had gingered Roger up, at any rate. By nightfall he had wheedled "subs" out of the majority of Rooke's House, and when they visited Moston with "copy" for the second number of the Rag, they carried with them funds ample enough to defray the cost of publication for months ahead.
"Gentlemen, do you mind holdin' over the matter of payment a week or two?" said the Manager of the Moston Fairtype Press, almost plaintively. "I'm just now neck-deep in arrears of work—never a spare moment for book-keepin' do I get."
"Oh, but we'd rather pay, really, and get it off our minds," said Dick.
"Then we shall know exactly where we stand," Roger supplemented.
The manager spread out his ink-stained hands imploringly.
"It's all right, Mr. Forge—carry on, Mr. Cayton. I know you both—we can trust one another. I'll make out a bill to-morrow and you can pay me next time you're in town. I'd much rather!"
So the co-editors went away again with the money in their pockets, excusably touched by this further proof of confidence in their honesty. Number two of the Rag came out in all its glory, irreproachably printed on fine-quality paper, and so far they hadn't been permitted to pay a farthing towards its cost! It seemed almost like philanthropy.
It was gratifying, too, to see how much better the second issue went down than the first had done. Probably because they had paid for it this time, the boys did not chuck it about, and it appeared to be read with even closer attention than was the monthly Foxonian, brought out simultaneously. In truth, the rival papers lashed out at each other, though with perfect fairness, and the contents of both were voted "particularly spicy".
"Roger, old man, shake!" cried Dick, after tea. "This is my life's happiest day, I really think. Thanks, as much as anything, to your pungent 'Sauce for the Gander', we are in this pleasant position—— Now, kid, why are you nosing about here? Clear off!"
He broke into his congratulatory speech to turn irritably on a flabby-faced, unhealthily fat youngster, who had had the amazing cheek to draw his attention by plucking at his sleeve.