Part 38 (2/2)
”Was I the only one?”
”No; I am equally guilty.”
”I am glad you acknowledge it. You see you had better keep quiet for your own sake.”
”If I keep quiet I shall starve.”
”Do you want to go to prison?”
”I shouldn't mind so much if you went along, too.”
”Are you crazy, Philip Carton?”
”No, I am not, but I am beginning to get sensible. If I go to prison I shall at least have enough to eat, and now I haven't.”
”What do you mean by all this foolish talk?”
”I mean that if you won't give me any money I will go to the store and tell Mr. Goodnow something that will surprise him.”
Jasper was getting thoroughly frightened.
”Come, Philip.” he said, ”listen to reason. You know how poor I am.”
”No doubt. I know you have a good home and enough to eat.”
”I only get seven dollars a week.”
”And I get nothing.”
”I have already been trying to help you. I went to Ropes the other day, and asked him to lend me five dollars. I meant it for you.”
”Did he give it to you?”
”He wouldn't give me a cent. He is mean and miserly!”
”I don't know. He knows very well that you are no friend of his, though he doesn't know how much harm you have done him.”
”He's rolling in money. However, I've put a spoke in his wheel, I hope.”
”How?”
”I wrote an anonymous letter to Mr. Sargent telling him that Ropes was discharged from the store on suspicion of theft.”
”You are a precious scamp, Jasper.”
”What do you mean?”
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