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Dad gets his mail at Bakerville. I guess if you wrote my name and his name and sent it to Bakerville, Id get it. I Id like first rate to get a letter from you. I aint never got very many letters.
Well, Ill write you one, said Nelson cheerfully. I shall want to know how youre getting along, so you must answer it. Will you?
Jerry reddened under his tan.
I guess so, he muttered. But I aint much of a writer. You see, I aint never seemed to have much time for writin.
Of course not! But dont let that trouble you. All ready, you fellows? Well, good-by, Jerry. Were awfully much obliged to you. Hope well see you again. And dont forget that youre going to make some money and enter Hillton.
Jerry shook hands embarrassedly with each of the four and followed them down to the road.
Good-by, he called. I wish youd all come again. You been good to tell me about them schools. I I had a mighty good time!
They walked on in silence for some distance. Then, when the corner of the hotel had disappeared around a turn of the road, Tom broke out explosively.
Its a mu-mu-mu-mean sh-shame! he said.
What is? they asked in chorus.
Why, that fellow bu-bu-back there. Hed give his skin to gu-gu-gu-go to school, and instead of that hell have to stay there in that pu-pu-place all his life!
Thats so, Tommy, said Bob. It is hard luck. And hes a good fellow, too, Jerry is. Take those overalls off him, and put some decent clothes on him, and hed be a good-looking chap.
Yes, and hes built well too, added Dan. Hed make the varsity eleven first pop.
Hes the sort of chap whod be popular, I think, said Nelson. I wish
What do you wish? asked Dan.
I wish we could help him.
There was an instants silence. Then Tommy fell over a stone and began to stutter violently.
Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu sputtered Tommy.
Easy there, cautioned Dan. Youll blow up in a minute.
Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu
Shut up, you fellows, said Dan indignantly, and hear what he has to say. Its going to be great!
Lu-lu-lu-lets!
Eh?
Hows that, Tommy?
Once more, please.
Lu-lu-lu-lets! repeated Tom, very red of face.
Oh, of course!
Twice that, Tommy!
Lets what?
Lu-lets help him!
Oh! Id forgotten what we were talking about, said Dan.
Yes, that was about half a mile back, said Bob.
Lets see if we cant make up enough to send him to Hillton for a year, went on Tommy. Hed probably get a scholarship, and then if he found some work there, hed make out all right the next year.
Youve got a good heart, Tommy, said Dan. Its a shame you dont go to a decent school.
Tom took no notice of the insult.
Couldnt we, Bob? he asked.
I dont see how we could do it ourselves, answered the older boy. But we might get some one interested in him.
Three hundred isnt awfully much, said Nelson thoughtfully. If we got our folks to give a fourth
Thats 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?
Ill ask. I think he will give it, although I cant say sure. Hes had hard luck lately.
Youre in it, arent you, Dan?
Not a cent will I allow my father to pay to send a chap to Hillton, answered Dan indignantly. If he wants to go to St. Eustace, now, why
But you see, Dan, said Tom sweetly, he wants an education.
Dan chased Tom down the road and administered proper punishment. When order was restored the four discussed the matter seriously, and it was decided that Jerry was to go to Hillton.
Of course, said Nelson, he couldnt pass the entrance exams as he is now, but if he has a years schooling this year he ought to make it all right. And if he doesnt have to work he can go to school. I suppose theres a decent school around here somewhere?
Plenty of them, answered Dan indignantly.
If he needs some coaching next summer, said Tom, Ill see that he gets it.
You might coach him yourself, Tommy, suggested Dan.
He said he was sixteen now, pondered Bob. That would make him seventeen when he entered. Rather old for the junior class, eh?
What of it? asked Nelson. Ill see that he knows some good fellows, and I dont believe any chaps going to make fun of him when they know about him. Besides, maybe we can get him into the lower middle class.
Thats so, said Tom. Anyway, Ill bet hes the sort that can learn fast and remember things. Wish I could.
Heres a romantic-looking well, said Dan, and Im thirsty. That bacon was a trifle salt. Lets go in and interview the old oaken bucket.
The well stood in front of a little white house, and as they went up the walk a woman put her head around the corner of the open door. Dan doffed his cap gallantly.
May we borrow a drink of water? he asked politely.
The woman nodded and smiled, and Tom began winding the old-fashioned windlass. When the bucket which turned out to be tin instead of oak made its appearance the four dipped their cups.
Fellow tramps, declaimed Dan, let us drink a health to Jerry. May he be a credit to Hillton!
May our plans succeed, added Nelson.
Heres to Ju-ju-Jerry! cried Tom.
To our protégé! laughed Bob.
To our protégé! they echoed, and drank merrily.
CHAPTER IV
INTRODUCES MR. WILLIAM HOOPER AND AN IMPROMPTU SUPPER
By the time they had regained the Jericho road they had walked nearly twelve miles, and it was close to six oclock. It had been slow going for the last two hours, for the distance had begun to tell on them, especially on Dan and Tom. Nelson and Bob, who had been at Camp Chicora for ten weeks, were in pretty good training, but even they were tired.
Now what? asked Dan, as they paused at the junction of the two roads.
Well, Jerichos a good mile and a half back, according to the map, answered Bob. Suppose we find Bill Hoopers place and see if he will give us some supper. After that we can go on to Jericho and find a place to sleep.
All right, but are you sure theres a hotel at Jericho? said Nelson.
No, but Bill will tell us, I guess.
On to Bills! said Dan wearily.
So they turned to the right and made toward the nearest farmhouse, a half mile distant. It proved on nearer acquaintance to be a prosperous-looking, well-kept place, with acres and acres of land to it and a big white house flanked by a much bigger red barn. They made their way up a lane under the branches of spreading elm trees, and knocked at the front door. Presently footsteps sounded inside and the portal swung open, revealing a thickset elderly man, whose morose, suspicious face was surrounded by a fringe of grizzled beard and whiskers.