Part 20 (2/2)

”I guess that's right,” said the tramp. ”But I'm not to blame for it. I don't like to work. It's the way I was born, and if I don't like it I don't see why I should do it, do you?”

”Not as long as some one else is willing to work and get you something to eat and wear,” suggested George tartly.

”I guess you're right again,” drawled the tramp. ”If the time ever comes when there isn't anybody to do that for me, then I guess I'll have to go to work. But I'm putting it off as long as possible. h.e.l.lo,” he added quickly, ”there comes a car,” pointing as he spoke toward an automobile which was swiftly approaching.

George ran speedily down to the road and hailed the approaching car.

The automobile was stopped as the signal was discovered, and for the first time George was conscious of his dust-discolored face, for seated in the back seat was a young girl with her mother. She laughed as she saw George's countenance and even her mother's face could not conceal the quizzical expression that appeared when George spoke.

”We had a blowout here,” explained George, ”and when we tried to put on a new tube our jack broke. Can you help us out?”

”Certainly,” said the woman. ”James, you help these young gentlemen,”

she added as she turned to her chauffeur.

The other boys now turned and offered their a.s.sistance to George, although Grant and John plainly were more interested in the occupants of the friendly car than they were in the task immediately confronting them.

”There's no use, boys,” said the chauffeur at last. ”That blowout must have been a big one.”

”It was,” spoke up Fred quickly.

”It has bent your rim. Yon never can get a new tire on that until it has been fixed.”

”What shall we do?” inquired George blankly.

”The best thing I can suggest is for you to get in our car and we will take you to a good garage about four miles up the road. They will have to come back here in another car so you won't have to walk.”

”That's a good suggestion,” said George quickly as he prepared to accept the invitation.

His zeal, however was quickly shared by two of his friends, who insisted that their presence also was required. ”You see,” Fred explained, ”if they cannot help us at that garage, why some of us will have to go on to another. We cannot leave our car here all day in the sun.”

John was the only one of the party left behind and as it was deemed necessary for some one to remain with the car he volunteered for that service.

The task confronting him was not difficult, however, and John soon was reclining once more in a shaded spot near the tramp who was still seated in the same place he had first been seen.

In spite of John's efforts to draw the man into conversation the tramp was strangely silent most of the time. At last, however, his mood changed and turning to John he said, ”Your friends ought to be back here by this time.”

”They may have had trouble in getting a car right away to bring them back.”

”Well, they will be here pretty soon,” said the tramp. ”I think I'll go up to that orchard up yonder,” he added as he pointed to a hillside covered with apple trees about one hundred yards distant.

”Are there any apples there ripe?” inquired John quickly.

”Plenty of them. Plenty of them. The owner doesn't seem to care anything about them. He hasn't sprayed his trees or pruned them for years, but there are some juicy red apples in the corner of the orchard and they are mighty good. I know for I have tried them already.”

”Wait a minute and I'll go up with you,” said John.

Together they made their way up the side of the hill and John speedily discovered that the statement of his companion was correct. The ground beneath the trees was carpeted with a layer of red apples tempting in their size and appearance.

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