other matter."

Two plans in one head, and so young a head as that? Yes, and it spoke
very well for Dab's heart, as well as his brains, that plan number two
was not a selfish one. The substance of it came out in the first five
minutes of the talk he had with Ford and Frank, on the other side of the
gate.

"Ford, you know there's twenty dollars left of the money the Frenchman
paid us for the blue-fish."

"Well, what of it? Isn't it yours?"

"One share's mine, the rest yours and Dick's."

"He needs it more'n I do."

"Ford, did you know Dick was real bright?"

"'Cute little chap as I ever saw. Why?"

"Well, he ought to go to school."

"Why don't he go?"

"He does, except in summer. He might go to the academy if they'd take
him and he had money enough."

"What academy?"

"Why, Grantley, of course. I'm going, and so are you and Frank. Why
shouldn't Dick go?"

"You're going? Hurrah for that! Why didn't you say so before?"

"Wasn't sure till this morning. You fellows'll be a long way ahead of
me, but I mean to catch up."

For a few minutes poor Dick was lost sight of in a storm of talk, but
Dab came back to him with:

"Dick's folks are dreadful poor, but we might raise it. Twenty dollars
to begin with--"

"I've ten dollars laid up, and I know mother'll say pass it right in,"
exclaimed Ford.

It was hardly likely Mrs. Foster would express her assent precisely in
that way, but Frank added:

"I think I can promise five."

"I mean to speak to Ham Morris and mother about it," said Dab. "All I
wanted was to fix it about the twenty to start on."

"Frank," shouted Ford, "let's go right in and see our crowd."

Ford was evidently excited, and it was hardly five minutes later when he
wound up his story with:

"Father, may I contribute my ten dollars to the Richard Lee Education
Fund?"

"Of course, but he will need a good deal more than you boys can raise."

"Why, father, the advertisement says half a year for a hundred and
fifty. He can board for less than we can. Perhaps Mrs. Myers would let
him work out a part of it."

"I can spare as much as Ford can," said Annie.

"Do you leave me out entirely?" asked her mother, with a smile that was
even sweeter than usual. As for sharp-eyed lawyer Foster, he had been
hemming and coughing in an odd sort of way for a moment, and he had
said, "I declare," several times, but he now remarked, somewhat more to
the purpose: "I don't believe in giving any man a better