“I tell you, you must,” the other said fiercely. “I know well enough you can pawn something. You can get a few plunks on that ring and scarf-pin of yours. I’ve long ago put everything I had in hock. Come now, Sid,” and the voice became more wheedling in tone, “you know well enough this state of things won’t last long. The old man will take me back again and I’ll be rolling in money. Then I can pay back all you’ve let me have.”
197Fred and Teddy looked at each other with a conviction that flashed on both of them at the same moment.
“Where have I heard those dulcet tones before?” murmured Fred. “Either I’m going crazy or that’s Andy Shanks.”
“And the other is Sid Wilton,” replied Teddy. “Come to think of it, I heard he lived down this way somewhere. I wonder what all this gab is about.”
“It seems to me that Andy’s father has thrown him out to face life on his own hook,” conjectured Fred.
“And he doesn’t seem to be making a success of it,” judged Bill.
Just then the two debaters emerged from behind the fence and came face to face with their former schoolmates.
The former bully of Rally Hall and his crony started back, and for a moment were so nonplussed that they could do nothing but stare.
“How are you, Sid?” said Fred, breaking a silence that was beginning to be awkward.
Sid made a stammering reply.