“You’ve got a good heart, Tommy,” said Dan. “It’s a shame you don’t go to a decent school.”
Tom took no notice of the insult.
“Couldn’t we, Bob?” he asked.
“I don’t see how we could do it ourselves,” answered the older boy. “But we might get some one interested in him.”
“Three hundred isn’t awfully much,” said Nelson thoughtfully. “If we got our folks to give a fourth——”
“That’s it!” cried Tom. “My dad will give a fourth. Why, it would be only seventy-five dollars!”
“A mere nothing,” murmured Dan. “One moment, please, and I will draw a check.” He flourished his hand through the air. “‘Pay to Jerry seventy-five and no one-hundredths dollars. Daniel H. F. Speede.’ There you are. Oh, not a word, I beg of you! It is nothing, nothing at all! A mere trifle!”
“And I think I can promise for my father,” Nelson was saying. “How about you, Bob?”
“I’ll ask. I think he will give it, although I can’t say sure. He’s had hard luck lately.”