k of taking that and waiting for the rest,"
declared the stand-owner.

"No, I wouldn't expect you to."

"Maybe you could borrow the rest somewhere. I'd be willing to take two
hundred in cash and a mortgage for the balance."

"That would mean we'd have to borrow one hundred and seventy-five
dollars somewhere," said Dick. "No, we can't think of it. We'll have
to look for a cheaper stand or wait until we have more money saved up."

"You'll never get a cheaper stand. I know something about them, for I
tried to buy one when I first went in the business."

"I haven't any doubt but what this stand is worth all you ask for it,"
went on Dick, "but it's beyond our means. I'm sorry."

"So am I," frankly admitted the young man. "I'd like to sell out to a
couple of young fellows, but, of course, if you haven't the money you
can't do business. And I need cash to go away with."

"Well, we'll have to look somewhere else," remarked Jimmy, much
disappointed. They bade the young man good-bye and started back to
resume the selling of papers, which they had interrupted in order to
make their inquiries.

"Did you think he'd want so much as that?" asked Jimmy, as they walked
up Barclay Street.

"No, I hadn't any idea stands were worth so much."

"Me either. I guess we'll never get one now."

"Yes, we will," declared Dick firmly. "I'm going to have one. If we
can't find a cheaper one, we'll save up more money. A stand is the
only way to make a good living in this business."

"Oh, we've done pretty well," observed Jimmy. "I've made more money
since I've been with you than I ever made before."

"Yes, but it's not enough for a firm like ours," and Dick laughed. "We
want to do three times as much."

During the days that followed the two partners devoted themselves
harder than ever to the business of selling papers. They did well,
too, for Jimmy had much improved in his methods and had attracted a
number of new customers, who regularly bought their papers from him.
Dick, also, had increased his trade and was becoming well known in the
financial district as "the polite newsboy."

While at first there had been, on the part of other lads selling
papers, a disposition to annoy Dick, they now let him alone. One
reason for this was a quiet word spoken to the policeman in that
district by one or two brokers, who had taken a liking to Dick, and who
understood the opposition to him. After that the officer kept his eyes
op