“If I can help you out, Ray, I have some savings which I should be glad to put in.”
Ray looked up a moment, and answered in a tone too low for Howard to hear:
“Thanks, Harry, but I think it would be better to do it all up by myself. You know what I mean. He would feel like a beggar if two or three contributed. Better let me finish it.”
At this moment Howard looked up.
“Wendell,” he began, “why do you take this heavy risk? You know nothing but bad of me——”
“Because I expect to know nothing but good of you hereafter,” answered Ray promptly. “I have your promise, haven’t I?”
“With all my heart,” responded Howard fervently. “But how can I ever repay the loan? I can never rest until it is paid up to you, and you know I am not wealthy.”
“Take your time. I can trust you,” answered Ray. “There is your check, now, so you must hurry off and get rid of your tormentors. The others we can attend to later. There is no one else knows anything of this?”
“No one,” answered Howard, “except perhaps Jarvis down stairs. He may not understand about the disturbance of your desk. You know you spoke to him about it.”
“Yes, so I did,” said Ray. “Never mind, I will see him and tell him that it is all right. I will explain the matter satisfactorily. Now you’d better hurry, for it is getting late.”