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The High School Boys' Canoe Club, a fiction by H. Irving Hancock |
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Chapter 10. Putting Up A Big Scheme |
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_ CHAPTER X. PUTTING UP A BIG SCHEME "Your uncle will be at his regular stand to-night, won't he?" queried Dick Prescott. "I expect so," Mart agreed. "What's the matter? Do you want to go along with us? I guess Uncle Billy would be willing." At this moment Dick heard a group of younger boys laughing as they strolled along the street. Following their glances, Dick saw in the street what is commonly known in small towns as the "hoss wagon"---a vehicle built for the purpose of removing dead horses. "There goes Fred Ripley's bargain!" chuckled one of the boys. At that moment Fred Ripley himself turned the corner into Main Street. "And there's Rip himself," laughed another boy. "Hey, Rip! How's horse flesh?" But Fred, flushing angrily, hurried along. "What's up?" asked young Prescott as the group of boys came along. "Haven't you heard about Fred's pony?" asked one of the crowd. "I know he bought a pony," Dick answered. "Yes; but Squire Ripley had a veterinary go down to the Ripley stable this afternoon, and look the pony over," volunteered the ready informant. "Vet said that the pony would be worth a dollar or two for his hide, but wouldn't be worth anything alive. So Squire Ripley ordered the pony shot, and that cart is taking the poor beast away." "Is your canoe going to be a winner?" asked another boy. "We expect so," Dick nodded. "Great joke on Rip, isn't it?" grinned another. "I can't say that his misfortune makes me especially happy," Prescott answered gravely. "Well, I'm glad he was 'stung' on his pony," continued the other boy. "Rip is no good!" "There is an old saying to the effect that, if we got our just deserts we'd all of us be more or less unhappy," smiled Dick. "Rip won't be so chesty with us smaller boys," predicted another grammar school boy. "If he tries it on, all we've got to do is to ask him, 'How's horse flesh, Rip?'" In spite of himself Dick could not help laughing at the thought of the mortification of the lawyer's son when he should be teased on so tender a point. Then Dick asked: "Mart, is your uncle at his stand now?" "I reckon he is," nodded Heckler. "Let's go over there and see him." "You're going to try to take the ride with us, then?" asked Mart. "I think so." "Bully!" glowed Mart, who, like most of the younger boys of Gridley, was a great admirer of the leader of Dick & Co. Billy Heckler, a man of thirty, was, indeed, to be found at his stand. "Dick wants to go up to Lake Pleasant with us on Monday," Mart began, but Dick quickly added: "I understand, Mr. Heckler, that you're going up to the lake without a load." "Yes," nodded the truckman. "Then it struck me that perhaps I could arrange with you to take up our canoe and some bedding, and also let the fellows ride on the wagon." "How many of you are there?" inquired Billy Heckler. "The usual six," Dick smiled. "If you can do it, how much would you charge us?" "Fifteen dollars," replied the driver, after a few moments' thought. Dick's face showed his disappointment at the answer. "I'm afraid that puts us out of it, then," he said quietly. "I had hoped that, as you are going up without a load, anyway, you might be willing to take our outfit up for a few dollars. It would be that much to the good for you, wouldn't it?" "Hardly," Billy replied. "Carrying a load takes more out of a team than an empty wagon does. You can see that, can't you?" "Ye-es," Dick nodded thoughtfully. "But, you see, we're only boys, and we can't talk money quite like men yet." "Some men can't do anything with money except talk about it," Billy Heckler grinned. "Well, I'd like to oblige you boys. What's your offer, then?" "We don't feel that we could pay more than five dollars," Dick answered promptly. "No money in that," replied Billy Heckler, picking up a piece of wood and whittling. "No; I'm afraid there isn't," Dick admitted. "I guess our crowd will have to content itself with staying at home and using the canoe on the river." "The river is a good place," Heckler argued. "Why aren't you all content to stay at home and use your canoe on the river?" "Because," smiled young Prescott, "I suppose it's human nature to want to get away somewhere in the summer. Then we understand that there are other crew canoes on Lake Pleasant. Of course, now we've spent a few days in the canoe, we believe we're real canoe racers." "If you could call it ten dollars," Heckler proposed after a few minutes, "that might-----" "The crowd hasn't money enough," Dick replied. "You see, we've got to get the canoe back, too. Then we'll have to use money to feed ourselves up there. I don't see how we can go if we have to spend more than five dollars to get there." Billy Heckler started to shake his head, but Mart, getting behind Dick, made vigorous signals. "We-ell, I suppose I can do it," agreed Heckler at last. "There's nothing in the job, but I can remember that I used to be a boy myself. We'll call it a deal, then, shall we?" "I'll have to see the other fellows first," Prescott answered. "I'll hustle, though. The fellows will all have to get permission at home, too, you know." "Let me know any time before six to-morrow night," proposed Billy. "It must be understood, though, that if I get a paying freight order to haul to the lake between now and starting time, then my deal with you must be off." "Of course," Dick agreed. "And thank you, Mr. Heckler. Now, I'll hustle away and see the other fellows." Dick sped promptly away. When he reached Main Street he found the other fellows there. Dick gleefully detailed the semi-arrangement that he had made. "Great!" cried Dave. "Grand, if we can all square matters at home," Tom Reade nodded. "Well, fellows, you all know what we've got to do now. We'll meet again at this same place. All do your prettiest coaxing at home. It spoils the whole thing if anyone of us gets held up from the trip. Did you hear about Rip's pony, Dick?" "Yes." "Served him ri---" began Greg Holmes, but stopped suddenly. For Fred Ripley, turning the corner, saw Dick & Co., and carefully walked around them to avoid having to pass through the little crowd. "Speaking of angels-----!" said Dave Darrin dryly. "Don't tease him, Darry," urged Dick in a very low voice. But Fred heard all their remarks. His fists clenched as he walked on with heightened color. "It's just meat to them to see me so badly sold on the pony, and to know that my father ordered the animal shot and carted away!" muttered young Ripley fiercely. "Of course the whole town knows of it by this time. Prescott's muckers and a few others will be in high glee over my misfortune, but, anyway, I'll have the sympathy of all the decent people in Gridley!" Fred's ears must have burned that night, however, for the majority of the Gridley boys were laughing over his poor trade in horse flesh. _ |
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