Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Author of "CANOE MATES IN CANADA", "CHUMS IN DIXIE" "THE YOUNG FUR
TAKERS", Etc.
"I say, what's gone wrong now, Maurice, old fel?"
The speaker, a roughly clad boy of about fifteen or over, caughthold of his companion's sleeve and looked sympathetically in hisface.
The lad whom he called Maurice was better dressed, and he seemedto carry with him a certain air of refinement that was lacking inhis friend, who was of a rougher nature. Despite this differencehe and Thad Tucker were the closest of chums, sharing each other'sjoys and disappointments, small though they might be.
They had met just now at the post-office of a little country townnot many miles below Evansville, Indiana, as the afternoon mailwas being sorted.
The yellow flood of the great Ohio River could be seen from wherethey stood, glowing in the early November sunshine.
Upon being greeted with these words Maurice Pemberton shook hishead dolefully.
"It's come, just as I've been half expecting it these four months,Thad. The old couple I live with have sold their house and leavefor Chicago in a week. That turns me out into the Streets, for youknow they've given me a home ever since mother, who was a friendof Mrs. Jasper, died; and in return I've tried to make good bydoing all their gardening and other work between school hours. Nowa son has sent for them to come and make their home with him.Pretty tough on a fellow not to know where he's going to sleepafter a single week."
But Thad was smiling now, as though an idea had flashed into hishead that gave him reason for something akin to pleasure.
"Well, I don't know; if it comes to the worst, Pard Maurice,you're a dozen times welcome to share my old bunky on the shanty-boat. I'd just love to make another cot like mine, and have youthere. Say, wouldn't it be grand? Of course, though, you'd find ita pretty poor contraption alongside the house you've lived in; butif it was a thousand dollar launch still you'd be just as welcome,and you know it," he said with a heartiness that could not bemisunderstood.
The other looked at him affectionately, and was about to saysomething in return when the window of the post-office was thrownopen as a signal that the mail had been distributed. So Mauricestepped up to secure the usual papers, together with an occasionalletter, that came for the Jaspers.
Thad saw him start and look curiously at one letter, and thenbegin to tear the end off as though it were meant for him.
Watching curiously, all unaware how history was making at thatidentical moment for himself and Maurice, he saw the other smileand nod his head, while an expression of delight gradually creptover his face.
Then Maurice remembered that his chum was standing there waitingfor him to come, and together they passed out of the littleoffice.
"If that doesn't beat the Dutch!" Maurice was saying, half tohimself, as he looked at the letter he was holding in a hand thattrembled a little despite his efforts to seem composed.
"It cer