Part 2 (1/2)
”Of course you didn't,” declared Brick ”Do you fellows remember Tom Fordham, the chap froo, and had such jolly tiht broke on the boys
”We remember Tom,” they exclaimed, with enthusiasm
”And did you ever hear him talk of his best chum, Brick Larkins?”
”Often,” replied Hamp ”But you ain't----”
”Yes, I alad to meet you fellows The way I coe last fall, and a couple of weeks ago I got into a scrape and was dropped for a ter to spend the time on a lot of o deer hunting
My folks are in Europe, and a lawyer down in New York is o I'h to see h for a while I understand frouide I want hi to pay his price, whatever it is”
”I'm the one,” replied Jerry, soberly; ”but my father is laid up with rheumatism, and won't be able to make any trips this winter”
”I'uide Look here, are you fellows in any trouble? You both look pretty downhearted, if you'll pardonso”
The boys were reluctant to speak, but Brick finally compelled them to admit that they were in serious trouble, and that they had co to have a quiet talk over the matter
Twoof his lue in a storm What little money he left was soon spent, and now Ha of the mills in which he worked Unless he speedily found a new place, his mother and sister would be in actual want
Jerry was confronted by an equally diset no work to do, and money was sorely needed for his sick father His , but her time was now required for the invalid
Brick pondered the situation for a little while He could see that the boys were proud, and that it would never do to offer ht idea
”Look here,” he said, ”I'll bet you fellows know as uides Tom always said so, anyway How is it?”
”Haood deal,” replied Jerry, modestly ”We've been to Moosehead Lake and Chesumcook”
”And we're pretty fair shots,” added Hamp ”We've been in at the death ofso young weabout that this evening”
”I wouldn't want better guides,” declared Brick ”If you felloill take me into the woods I'll pay each of you fifteen dollars a week, and stand all expenses Before we start I'll pay in advance for three weeks”
He opened his pocketbook and showed the contents
”I can easily afford it,” he added ”I have nearly five hundred dollars”
The boys were dazzled by this ht tears to their eyes to think of the relief thatto the afflicted ones at home
”You're awfully kind,” said Jerry, in a treo if my father will let me And I'm sure he will”
”I know ood as settled,” declared Brick ”I can hardly wait till we're off I've been wanting to see the Maine wilderness for years”