They went to see the owner of the stand the next day. The location, they knew from their past experience, was a good one, as it was near several ferries and street-car lines, as well as right under an elevated station. Thus the owner of the stand could always be assured of a large number of customers. "I wonder how much he'll want for it?" spoke Dick, as they approached. "Oh, maybe about forty or fifty dollars. How much have we got saved up now?" "Nearly twenty-five." "Maybe he'll trust us for what we haven't got, Dick." "Perhaps, if we give him a mortgage." "What's a mortgage?" "Why, it's a paper showing that you owe a man so much money, and you give him a claim on your property as security. You'll soon learn about them in your arithmetic, especially when we get going to night-school." "I don't care whether I learn or not, if I can be a part-owner in that stand," declared Jimmy, his eyes shining as he noted the pile of papers and magazines and saw the little enclosure where the proprietor of the place sat. "Oh, but you must," insisted Dick. "Now shall I do the talking, or will you?" "You'd better. But if he tries to come any 'con' game on us I'll have something to say. I know lots about selling papers, but not much about buying stands." "I hear this stand is for sale," began Dick, speaking to a young man in charge. "Who told you?" was the somewhat suspicious answer. "My partner here, James Small, heard it from another newsboy, Sam Schmidt. Isn't it correct?" "I suppose it is. I want to sell out. I've got to go West for my lungs." "That's too bad. How much do you want for the stand?" "Well, you know this is a good place to do business." "I'll have to take your word for it," replied Dick. "Still it seems quite a lively place and ought to be good." "Good? I guess it is!" "How much do youse--I mean you--take in every week?" asked Jimmy suddenly, for he felt he could safely ask this question. "What's that got to do with it?" inquired the stand-owner sharply. "Lots. If me and me partner buys this stand, we want to know how much we're going to make." "Well, I do a good business. Of course some days it's better than others." "What does it average?" asked Dick. "Well," replied the proprietor, after some figuring, "it averages fifty-five dollars a week." Jimmy uttered a low whistle of surprise. That was higher than he had thought. "And what are the expenses?" asked Dick quietly. "I have to pay the elevated railroad company ten dollars a week for having my stand here, and I have to hire a boy to bring me papers and other supplies, for I sell cigars and tobacco. But there aren't many weeks when I don't clear twenty dollars." Dick thought this was a fine business, but, of course, if he and Jimmy took it there would not be so much profit for each of them as the man got, unless they could increase the business. That was another matter to consider.