Harold assisting, Dick got to his feet, or, rather, his crutches, and, with the younger boy watching anxiously, went on down the ledge to the beach. “You needn’t come unless you’re ready to,” said Dick. “I’ll be all right now, Harold.” “I guess I’ll go, too,” replied Harold carelessly. “It’s most lunch time.” They walked along in silence for a way, and then Dick asked: “Do you know who Caspar Billings has got to take Morris Brent’s place on Saturday?” “Fellow named Jensen. Do you know him?” “No, I think not. Pretty good, is he?” “I guess so. Loring says he is. Say, Mason’s going to pitch for us. Did you know that?” “Mason? Oh, he is the fellow who was to have played in the last game and didn’t get here. Is he a wonder, Harold?” “Is he!” Harold chuckled. “You just wait and see. You fellows won’t be able to touch him!” “As good as that, eh? By the way, who scores for your team?” “I don’t know.” Harold shrugged his shoulders. “Nobody, I guess. Why?” “I should think you’d like to do it.” Harold considered. “I guess,” he answered finally, “I don’t know how well enough.” “I can show you. You bring a book Saturday and sit by me, and I’ll make a professional scorer of you in no time.” “Too much trouble,” replied the other indifferently. “It isn’t trouble at all, Harold; it’s fun. Better try it some time. It’s a good thing to know.” Presently Harold asked: “Why aren’t you coming to-morrow?” “Because we haven’t been getting on very well, Harold. I thought it might be a good idea for us to stop for a couple of days and think it over; see whether we want to go on with it or not, you know. If we decide that we do, we’ll start all over again Monday and do the thing right.” “Humph!” muttered Harold. “What did you tell my mother?” “Oh, just that I wasn’t willing to go on and take her money without accomplishing something,” replied Dick cheerfully. “I told her you could study as well as your brother if you wanted to——” “She’s always beefing about Loring!” grumbled the boy. “And that if you didn’t want to there wasn’t much use in my coming. Well, I’ll cut through here for the car. I’ll see you Monday, Harold.” “What about Saturday?” asked the other. “You said——” “Of course! Look me up, and bring your score-book.” “Haven’t any.” “You can get one at Wadsworth’s, on Common Street. Or I’ll buy one for you, if you like.” “You needn’t. It’s too much like work. So-long!” Dick returned to Clearfield more encouraged. If only Mrs. Townsend would do as she had agreed to, he believed that he could manage Harold and earn the money that was being paid him. He had about given up hope of finding more pupils, and so could ill afford to lose Harold. He certainly didn’t want to, he reflected, but he would in an instant rather than make no better progress than he had been making.