"Not goin'," he gasped; "Why,
what's the matter with you?" And he glared wildly at the young man.
"Nothing particularly new is the matter," said Dick, smiling at the
old gentleman's astonishment. "My reason is that I cannot become a
member of the Association when it is organized, and so have no right
to attend the meeting to-night. I may go in after a time, but I cannot
now."
"Why not?" said Mr. Wicks, still glaring.
"Because I haven't the money."
Uncle Bobbie settled back in his chair with a sigh of relief. "Oh, is
that all? To-be-sure, I thought mebbe you'd got your back up 'bout
somthin'."
"Yes, that's all," said Dick quietly, and did not explain how he had
spent everything in his search for the wealthy hardware merchant's
daughter. But perhaps Uncle Bobbie needed no explanation.
"Well, let me tell you, you're goin' anyhow; and you're goin' t' have
votin' power too. Be a pretty kettle o' fish if after that speech of
your'n, you weren't in the company. Be like tryin' to make a cheese
'thout any milk."
"But I haven't the money and that's all there is about it. I will go
in as soon as I can."
"Well, ye can borrow it, can't you?"
"Borrow. What security can I give?"
"Aint ye'r Christianity security enough?"
Dick laughed at him. "Is that the way men do business in Boyd
City?"
"Well, ye kin laugh if you want to, but that's 'bout th' best security
a feller can have in th' long run. Anyhow, it's good 'nough fer me.
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