Part 6 (2/2)
”I would leave to-morrow, only I cannot afford to be out of work, and times are somewhat dull But, about your proposed venture You will need sixty dollars o in, won't you?”
”Yes”
Ida Bartlett ht let you have that ot it?” stammered Matt
”Yes; I and s, you must know I'll have to ask Kate and Jennie and , I'll let you have the sixty dollars, and then you and this Dilks can form an equal partnershi+p”
”You are very kind,” exclaimed the boy warmly, for the offer was entirely unexpected
”No reat annoyance this noon, and I have not forgotten the many favors you have done me from time to time When did you say you were to ht to be on my way to his hotel now”
”Then do not let uess he'll wait”
”I will speak to ht, and I will let you know to-morrohat they think of the matter If they do not consent, I can let you have twenty-five dollars onthe venture doesn't pay? We o all to pieces on the road”
”I'll risk that--with you,” smiled Ida Bartlett ”If you cannot make it pay in one place, I know you'll soon find so is to make sure that this Andrew Dilks is honest I would not like to hear of you being swindled”
”Nor would I want to be swindled,” sht find it a hard job to pay back what I had borrowed”
”You ood living”
”And you would be able to see a good part of the country”
”That's the best part of it--to me I hate to stay in one place all the while Besides”--Matt lowered his voice--”it will give me a chance to look for my father, if he is still alive”
”You poor boy,” returned Ida Bartlett sy of him! Well, I trust, with all my heart, that you may some day find your father, alive and well”
CHAPTER VII
GETTING READY TO START
A few minutes later found Matt on his way to the Columbus Hotel The Boas croith all classes of people, so and buying, but the boy had no difficulty in ait In less than a quarter of an hour he reached the hotel and entered the office He was about to accost the clerk at the desk, when so he saw Andrew Dilks
”I have been watching for you,” said the young ht disappoint me”
”I was detained,” said Matt ”But I ao?”