“It isn’t his fault or Gus Kiggins’ either if we don’t know it,” said Ned angrily. “What does Gus say?” “You know what he says.” “That I’m a charity patient.” “Nobody pays any attention to what he says, anyway,” said Ned. “I’m not so sure of that. Honestly, Ned, what would you do if you were in my place?” asked Dan quietly. “I don’t know, though I know what I want you to do.” “Stay on?” “Yes.” “And put up with what Gus Kiggins says and does?” “He doesn’t count for much.” “Then, with what Walter says?” “That’s harder, I’ll own up; but――――” “But what?” “What does Mr. Borden say?” “Nothing. He hasn’t said a word.” “Have you said anything to him?” “Not yet.” “Then don’t.” “Look here, Ned,” said Dan, turning about in the seat and facing his companion, “I’ll tell you that sometimes the whole affair is more than I can stand. I didn’t ask to come. I had a little money saved and I was going to the normal school. I wish now I had and hadn’t taken a cent from Mr. Borden. But he came to me and told me it was all pure sentiment on my part that made me draw back. He went on to say that he hadn’t any foolish notions about such things, that in his business he depended a good deal upon the things his friends could throw his way, and that he never refused any of them because of any such feelings as I pretended to have. Then he told me that I could look upon it as a pure matter of business. That Walter was a spoiled boy and that it would be worth a good deal more to him――I mean Mr. Borden――to pay what my term bills would cost just to have me room with Walter. Of course, I wanted to come, and when he put it in that light I couldn’t find any reason why I shouldn’t take up with his offer.” “There wasn’t any reason!” exclaimed Ned warmly. “Perhaps not――and yet as a business proposition, look at it for a minute. It isn’t very modest of me to say so, but Mr. Borden thought――or at least he implied――that what influence I had over Walter would pay what it might cost his father to have me room with him. But look at it! You all say that Walter is a ‘chump.’ He’s away down in his classes and if I should suggest to him to do certain things that would be the surest way of getting him to do just the opposite. Walter doesn’t like me. He chums with Gus Kiggins――――” “He doesn’t stick to anything very long, and there isn’t any reason for believing that Gus will be an exception.” “I am not sure of that. Gus seems to have him under his thumb.” “Get him out from under it.” “How?” “Can’t some of us help?” “How?” again inquired Dan with a smile. “Oh, we can have a talk with Walter, or we can put it up to Gus.” “No,” said Dan. “Perhaps a word with Walter sometime, if it came in all right might be a good thing, but I don’t want you to say anything to Gus.” “Why not?” “It would make a bad matter worse. You see, this is a part of my course, I guess. I’ve had to learn a lot of things――――”