sed, since
Mopsey was so anxious to carry out his ideas, that rather than spend
it all on their theatre they should divide the money, so that each
could do with his share as he thought best.

Johnny advised buying or starting a news-stand in some good location,
and this Mrs. Green seemed to think was the most sensible plan of all.
Of course the boys knew that she and Nelly each had a share in the
money, and her advice had great weight with them. But they had come to
no decision when they went to bed that night, and the morning found
them quite as divided in opinion as to what should be done with their
great wealth.

None of the boys, not even Mopsey, had been able to go to work that
day, and the greater portion of the forenoon was spent in City Hall
Square, trying to come to some understanding about their money. As a
matter of course, they remembered what Mr. Weston had said about
rewarding them still further because of what they had done for Paul;
but since it was Ben and Johnny who had really cared for the boy when
he did not know where to go or what to do, they would be the only ones
who would probably be benefited, although Mopsey felt that there was a
great deal yet due him for the theatrical education which he had
bestowed.

While they were still engaged in argument, and with no more prospect
of coming to any agreement in the matter, Mr. Weston and Paul stood
before them, having approached unobserved, because of the exciting
discussion which had occupied their attention to the exclusion of
everything else. Mr. Weston had heard enough of the conversation to
know that the question of what should be done with the money he had
given them was under discussion, and after seating himself on one of
the benches, with the boys all around him, he succeeded in gaining
their confidence so far that they talked unreservedly before him.

When each one had advanced his views on the matter, Mr. Weston agreed
with Dickey that it was better for them to divide it equally, and Paul
figured out to them what each one of the six would have as his
portion.

Then Mr. Weston startled them by an invitation which almost took their
breath away. He said that he could not keep his appointment with them
that evening, because of business matters which would require his
attention, but, instead, he would invite them, as well as Mrs. Green
and Nelly, to go to Coney Island with himself and Paul for a holiday.

Of course there was but one answer