“Well,” he said at length, a twinkle coming into his eyes. “I’d ask you to let me put your salvage money with it, and—”
“Salvage money? I’m afraid Mr. Barker doesn’t mean to pay a cent of that,” the boy declared. “He ought to, according to the law, but the law doesn’t seem to be everything.”
The twinkle was still in Mr. Holden’s eyes.
“That’s where you’re wrong, boy,” he said. “The law does amount to a great deal. I met Mr. Merrill while I was out walking this morning, and he’s just told me something you’ll be glad to hear.”
“About the—the salvage?”
Mr. Holden nodded.
“What did he say?” Jack asked eagerly.
“That Mr. Barker has decided to pay the whole amount rather than go to court,” announced the boy’s father, triumphantly.
Jack stared, for that was the last thing he had expected. Then he began to laugh, for he still had his own good news to tell.