Part 8 (1/2)

”I don't know, but if there is any oing to go about it?” asked Bill as he stepped into the S and prepared to start

”I don't know,” answered Frank, still sitting with his chin in his hands ”Beg it, or borrow it, or steal it”

Bill threw in the clutch and the S sped away

Frank was left to his own bitter thoughts Money! He had brooded over his lack of it and had reood time in school he ed his ood ti with Jardin instead of with Bill Sher him

Now he knew that he must obtain what he wanted soive it to hi to sell that was of any value Yes, there was one thing He could pawn his watch, that beautiful watch that had been his grandfather's and which he was to use when he enty-one In the randfather's will On the spur of the moht of it before? It was a repeater, that watch, and his grandfather had paid nearly a thousand dollars for it He would sell it He hurried into the house and to his mother's room: he knehere she always kept her jewel case hidden The watch was there and putting it in his pocket, Frank hurried out of the house

Bill and Lee took it slowly as usual going back to school, stopping to watch the big observation balloon come down to anchor

”I am sorry about Frank,” Bill reround in New Post ”I never saw a fellow change so in such a short tirouchy as he can be

I wish there was so,” said Lee ”Do you suppose his folks wouldan aad down there in the bank I arandfather because I can talk his sign language and because I look more like an Indian than soive him five or six hundred dollars”

”That is perfectly fine of you, Lee, but I know they would not want you to do such a thing, because they would think it was sie su to, there is a rule that the boys are not to have money There is a sives us what he thinks we ought to have More for the big fellows and less for the little ones, and none at all if we don't behave”

Lee looked disappointed

”That's too bad,” he said, patting Bill on the shoulder with a rare caress ”I was going to get Major Sherht, Lee, old man,” said Bill, ”but honest, I won't need money What I ant is a letter fro you can do forto die with homesickness Why, I was never away from my mother before in my life! I can tell you, I will never be away froh for hed

Lee stuck to the subject ”What if I should _lend_ Frank the money he wants?” he persisted

”I tell you, old dear, he won't be allowed to have money at all”

”What is to prevent it if they don't know it?” asked Lee

”Why, _he_ wouldn't want to break the rules,” said Bill ”There is no fun in breaking rules You can get enough fun without that”

”All right,” said Lee, ”but the Indian part ofa bad hunch about Frank You watch and see He is going to get into trouble, and I think it will have so to do with this money he wants so much”

”I hate to have you say that,” from Bill ”Your hunches come to time pretty sharply; but I will simply keep an eye on hioing to the same school with Jardin”

”Do you know that you are not?” said Lee with a queer smile

”Yes, I _do_ know, and for two reasons We did not knohere ere going when he was here and, second place, the school we are going to is not swell enough for Jardin”

”Look for hiet there,” re the S in a long sweep to the back step of the quarters in B2 ”If you keep this hunch business up, Lee, you will be getting up as a fortune-teller We are through with Jardin for a good while, I ah with Jardin's influence at least If it had not been for his tales and suggestions, Frank would not at that randfather's splendid watch in his pocket, hunting for a pawnshop that looked inviting He cas and watches that were certainly not in the class with the tio With so many ordinary watches on hand, they would appreciate as fine a one as he carried

He looked in the , then walked boldly in with the air of a person ishes to buy so He did it so well that the proprietor ca smile