Part 11 (1/2)
”That is for you to decide.”
”What _can_ we do with it?”
”It will buy heaps of candy,” suggested George, with a smile.
”Candy!” said Tony, contemptuously.
”You can make a fund of it if you like.”
”What for?”
”For any purpose you may wish. By and by, you may want money for something.”
”What shall we do with it?”
”Put it in the Savings Bank.”
”But the next thing is, shall we divide it? or let it remain as the property of the club? I suppose the fellows will all do just as I do.”
”Perhaps the money would do the parents of some of them a great deal of good.”
”I think very likely; we will let them vote upon it. Here comes Frank. I wonder what they are going to do with theirs.”
”How do you do, Tony? I have come over to talk with you about the race.
Next Wednesday is the day, you know.”
”I had forgotten all about the race in the excitement of the bridge affair.”
”I don't wonder.”
”What are you going to do with your money, Frank?” asked Tony. ”Your club met last evening, I believe.”
”We voted to buy some philosophical apparatus with it.”
”Good! Did Tim Bunker vote for that?”
”He didn't vote at all. He wanted the money divided; but the vote was unanimous for spending it as I said. By the way, Mr. Walker was liberal--wasn't he?”
”Princely. He ought to have given you more and us less, though.”
”No; he did perfectly right. We did not deserve even what we got.”
”Just like you! But come into the club room--b.u.t.terfly Hall--and we will fix things for the race.”
Frank and Tony discussed the details of the race, and at the end of an hour everything was arranged to the satisfaction of both. There was no difference of opinion except as to the length of the race. Tony, thought that twice up and down the lake, making an eight-mile race, would be best; but Frank felt sure that it was too long, and that it would tire the boys too much. So it was finally agreed that they should pull only once up and down, making about four miles.
As the b.u.t.terfly club were to meet that evening, Frank departed earlier than he otherwise would have done, so as not to be considered an intruder.
Tony's club were in high spirits that evening. The praise bestowed upon them had created a strong feeling of self-reliance in their minds.