Tom shook his head. “We haven’t got rich yet,” he answered dryly. “Haven’t taken in more than twenty or thirty dollars to-day.”
Spider’s eyes grew round again until Willard laughed. “The fact is, Spider,” said Willard, “we can’t get folks to ride with us yet. They’re so used to riding up with Connors’ men that they don’t even see us.”
“That’s too bad.” Spider frowned. “Couldn’t you—couldn’t you advertise?”
“Just what Tom suggested. But I told him advertising costs money. Besides, where would we advertise to catch the folks that travel on the trains? You see, they come from all around.”
“A lot of them come from right here,” said Tom. “Now, if——”
“I tell you!” exclaimed Spider. “I’ll get father to put an article in the paper about you.” Spider’s father was proprietor and editor of the News-Patriot, Audelsville’s principal daily newspaper. “He will do it if I ask him to and it won’t cost you a cent!”
“Why——” began Willard.
“I’ll get him to put it in to-morrow morning’s paper,” continued Spider enthusiastically. “All about how you two fellows bought the automobile and fixed it up yourselves and are carrying passengers to and from the station for a quarter, which is twenty-five cents less than Connors charges, and—and——” Spider paused, out of breath.
“That would be fine,” said Tom gratefully, “but I don’t know that we ought to let you do it, Spider. If we could pay for it——”