“Well, you’ve done pretty well, Kid,” said Steve Lovell when the final transaction was over. “How many boxes is that you’ve sold?”
“You haven’t sold any to Lanny or Bert,” said George Waters. “Get after them, Kid. What’s the matter with you, Lanny? Loosen up and patronize home industries.”
“He bought a box this afternoon,” said Kid hastily. “He liked them very much, didn’t you, Lanny?”
Kid’s look was so imploring that Lanny nodded. “Pretty good,” he said. “Taste beastly, but I guess they’ll do you good, all right.”
“Well, here’s Bert yet,” insisted George. “Why don’t you take a chance, Bert?”
“I—I’m flat broke,” replied Bert.
“Well, that’s all right. Kid’ll trust you, won’t you, Kid?”
“Of course.” Kid held a box of tablets toward Bert. As that youth made no move to take them Stanley Pierce kindly relayed them to him. “I’ll be very glad to trust him,” said Kid. “There’s no hurry, either; to-morrow or next day will do, Bert.”
Bert scowled formidably, but dropped the box in his pocket. And then the supper gong sounded and twelve hungry boys trooped into the dining-room. Kid and Small sat next to each other at Mr. Crane’s table, and it wasn’t long before Kid noticed that Small wasn’t much more than trifling with his food.