“That’ll do,” answered Wayne, as he pocketed the coins. “I’ll write home to-night and pay you back as soon as I get it. I’m awfully much obliged.”
“Don’t mention it. Is there anything else I can do for you to-day?”
“Have you got anything to eat? I lost my dinner; forgot it until a minute ago.”
“I’ve got some crackers,” replied Paddy dubiously, “and a tin of some kind of meat. It’s been opened a good while, but I guess it’ll be all right after I scrape the mold off.”
“Bring them out, will you? I’m in a hurry, Paddy; I’ve got a recitation at 3.15.” Paddy whistled.
“In a hurry! Whisper, Wayne, are yez ill?”
“Shut up. Where’s the meat?”
The delicacies were produced and Wayne ate ravenously. As Paddy had predicted, the tinned beef was extremely palatable to the hungry boy after a half inch of mold had been detached with the paper cutter.
“Do you know a chap named Gray?” asked Wayne, with his mouth full of cracker.