"I don't see where I got in his way, but he was forever butting in on Merry and me. And the way he hustled me off in that little speed-boat! I never had any one take such an interest in my getting back to college on time! That must have cost him quite a bit of kale. I can't understand it."
"It was because he is so good a friend of mine," Huntington explained. "He saw a youngster down there who flopped around like a big St. Bernard pup"—Huntington was gratified that his memory still retained Merry's simile,—"and he served the best interests of his friend by keeping you from making a mistake on your latest flop. Doesn't that clear things up?"
"As clear as mud," Billy grunted. "I guess I need one of those glass-bottomed boats they use down there to see the spinach and the gold-fish. I could see the gold-fish all right, but the spinach was on me.—That reminds me, Uncle Monty, will you lend me a hundred dollars?"
"For what, this time?"
"I want to lend it to Phil,—he's broke because his father has cut down his allowance."
"Billy!" Philip cried aghast; "I told you that in confidence. I wouldn't think of borrowing money from Mr. Huntington."
"How in the world do you expect to get a hundred dollars out of me unless I land Uncle Monty for it?—and he asked, 'for what?' You heard him."
"It's all right, Phil," Huntington said reassuringly. "Billy doesn't have any secrets from me because he can't keep them. I would much rather lend the money to you than to him."
"That isn't fair," Billy protested. "Phil is sure to pay it back, and I need it."
"I don't know what has happened," Philip explained without paying any attention to what his friend was trying to say, "but all of a sudden Dad wrote that I must cut my expenses in two. That's a hard thing to do in a minute, and I don't see why I should do it anyway, for Dad has all kinds of money."