barrel. You two generally
have some money."

"I've got five cents," laughed Dave. "Here it is."

"I've got a whole quarter, as it happens," added Dick, producing the
coin. "I'm not going to be mean, either."

"Whew, but I'll have a job pulling the canoe alone," muttered Greg
ruefully. "And it isn't much fun picking apples all alone. However, I'm
going. Maybe Harry Hazelton can go with me. Tom can't and Dan won't.
I'll see that you two get your shares of apples for the money you've
turned over to me."

"My share will be half a hat full," laughed Dave.

"And then some more, and still some more," added Greg readily. "I won't
forget that you two financed my expedition."

"I wish awfully that I could go with you, Greg," spoke Dick truthfully.
"But it wouldn't be fair for me to think of leaving everything at the
store for mother to do this afternoon."

"Oh, that's all right," nodded Greg.

"And you can bet that I wish I were going with you," supplemented
Darrin. "But I get a lot of snaps like this one at the express office,
and there are too many fellows hanging around there looking for my
chance. It isn't the easiest thing in the world for a fellow to pick up
silver quarters, Greg."

"Don't I know!" muttered Holmes.

So Greg went on his way.

"Say, wouldn't that be a great way to put in the afternoon?" sighed
Dave. "These fine September days get into a fellow's blood and make him
itch for the river and the fields."

"Don't tempt me," begged Dick Prescott plaintively. "I'm trying to do
the square thing by mother, and I do want to go with Greg!"

"Oh, well, a fellow can't always act on the square and have a good time,
too," philosophized Dave. "On the whole, I guess I'd rather have the
satisfaction of acting on the square."

Afternoon toil brought its rewards, however. Five members of Dick & Co.,
released from further responsibilities, met as usual on Main Street that
evening. They strolled about, met other fellows from the Central
Grammar, discussed football and talked over all the other topics dear to
the hearts of Grammar School boys.

"I wonder how Greg got along this afternoon?" suggested Dave. "Any of
you hear?"

The others shook their heads.

"We could go down to his house and ask him, only it would look as though
we were just hunting for apples," said Dick.

"Oh, Greg knows us better'n that," declared Tom Reade. "And Greg will
simply bring the apples to us, if we don't go to his house. What' say