The High School Boys Canoe Club | Page 6

We must hustle, too."
"No hustle for mine," yawned Dan Dalzell. "I'll just step down to my bank and get the money. Will two dollars be enough, Dick?"
"Stop that talk," ordered Dave Darrin, getting a grip on Dan's shirt collar. "If you don't, I'll thrash you! Dick has a scheme. Out with it, old chap!"
"The scheme is simple enough," said Prescott hurriedly. "We must each get two dollars, and get it like lightning. That will come to a dollar over the amount we need, but we shall need the extra dollar, anyway. So hustle! Borrow the money from anyone who'll let you have it. Offer to work the money out at any time---any old kind of work. The only point is to come running back with the money. Get it in any honest way that you can, and don't one of you dare to fail, or we'll lose our deposit money and our canoe. Start!"
Nor did Prescott lose any time himself, but raced down the street, turned into Main Street and ran on until he came to the little cross street on which stood the bookstore conducted by his father and mother.
"Mercy, Dick! What makes you run so?" asked Mrs. Prescott. Dick was rejoicing to discover that there was, at this moment, no customer in the store.
"Mother," replied her son, "I want to borrow three dollars this minute. I'll be responsible for it---I'll pay it back. Please let me have it---in a hurry!"
Then, briefly, he poured out the story. Mrs. Prescott's hand had already traveled toward the cash register.
"We're very short of money just now, my boy. Try to earn this and pay it back quickly. You know, trade is slow in the summer time, and we have several bills to meet."
"Yes, I'll pay it back, mother, at the first chance---and I'll make the chance---somehow," promised young Prescott. "Thank you."
The money in his hand, Dick raced back to the lot where the show tent still stood.
He was back before any of the others and waited impatiently. Dave Darrin came up ten minutes later.
"Did you get it?" asked Dick anxiously.
"Yes," replied Dave laconically, pushing two one dollar bills into Dick's hand.
One by one the other boys arrived. Each had managed to round up his part of the assessment.
With thirteen dollars in his hand, Dick went up to the auctioneer's clerk.
"I am ready to pay the other eleven dollars on the canoe," Prescott announced, speaking as calmly as possible.
"All right," agreed the clerk. "But you'll have to find some man you can trust to take the bill of sale. We can't pass title to a minor."
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" Dick demanded.
"That's all right. It wasn't necessary before, but it is now. Just find some man who will treat you all right and give you the canoe. Then we'll take the money and make out the bill of sale to him."
Fred Ripley now sauntered up, offering his money. He was given the same directions for finding a man to whom title could pass.
Dick looked about him. Then across the lot, and over on the further side of the street he saw his father.
Dick returned quickly to the lot with Mr. Prescott, explaining the situation. The bookseller listened gravely, but offered no objections. He stepped over, paid the money for Dick, then said:
"I must be going. Turn the canoe over to my son."
"Yes, sir," replied the auctioneer's clerk. "Men, haul out the truck that has the canoe on."
Mr. Prescott had already walked away. Dick and his chums greeted the coming of truck and canoe with a wild whoop. Then they piled up on the truck to inspect their treasure.
Fred Ripley, returning with Mr. Dodge, a local banker, saw the six youngsters climbing up to look at their purchase. A broad, malicious grin appeared on Ripley's face.
"Sold! sold!" gasped Dave Darrin. Then his face flushed with anger. For the canoe, which looked well enough on exhibition, proved to have three bad holes in her hull, which had been carefully concealed by the manner in which the craft had been propped up on the truck.
The great war canoe looked worthless---certain to sink in less than sixty seconds if launched!
CHAPTER II
"RIP" TRIES OUT HIS BARGAIN
Had a meaner trick ever been played on boys with whom it was so hard to raise money?
"Ha, ha, ha!" chuckled Fred Ripley, so loudly that the dismayed, angry boys could not fail to hear him.
"You sneak! You knew it all the time!" flared Dave Darrin, gazing down in disgust at the lawyer's son.
"Maybe I did know," Fred admitted, yet speaking to Mr. Dodge. "You see, one of my father's clerks served the papers which attached the show."
There was no help for Dick & Co. They had parted with their money and their "property" had been turned over to them.
It is