Chapter XIII. Jack Has a Mystery

“Whatisthematter?Doesyourheadache?”askedJill,oneeveninginMarch,observingthatJacksatwithhisheadinhishands,anattitudewhich,withhim,meanteitherpainorperplexity. “NobutI'mbothered.Iwantsomemoney,andIdon'tseehowIcanearnit,”heanswered,tumblinghishairabout,andfrowningdarklyatthefire. “Howmuch?”andJill'sreadyhandwenttothepocketwhereherlittlepurselay,forshefeltrichwithseveralpresentslatelymadeher. “Twoseventy-five.No,thankyou,Iwon'tborrow.” “Whatisitfor?” “Can'ttell.” “Why,Ithoughtyoutoldmeeverything.” “Sorry,butIcan'tthistime.Don'tyouworryIshallthinkofsomething.” “Couldn'tyourmotherhelp?” “Don'twishtoaskher.” “Why!can'tsheknow?” “Nobodycan.” “Howqueer!Isitascrape,Jack?”askedJill,lookingascuriousasamagpie. “Itislikelytobe,ifIcan'tgetoutofitthisweek,somehow.” “Well,Idon'tseehowIcanhelpifI'mnottoknowanything”andJillseemedratherhurt. “Youcanjuststopaskingquestions,andtellmehowafellowcanearnsomemoney.Thatwouldhelp.I'vegotonedollar,butImusthavesomemore”andJacklookedworriedashefingeredthelittlegolddollaronhiswatch-guard. “Oh,doyoumeantousethat?” “Yes,Idoamanmustpayhisdebtsifhesellsallhehastodoit,”saidJacksternly. “Dearmeitmustbesomethingveryserious.”AndJilllayquitestillforfiveminutes,thinkingoverallthewaysinwhichJackeverdidearnmoney,forMrs.Minotlikedtohaveherboyswork,andpaidtheminsomewayforalltheydid. “Isthereanywoodtosaw?”sheaskedpresently,beingveryanxioustohelp. “Alldone.” “Pathstoshovel?” “Nosnow.” “Lawntorake,then?” “Nottimeforthatyet.” “Catalogueofbooks?” “Frankgotthatjob.” “Copythoselettersforyourmother?” “Takemetoolong.MusthavemymoneyFriday,ifpossible.” “Idon'tseewhatwecando,then.Itistooearlyortoolateforeverything,andyouwon'tborrow.” “Notofyou.No,norofanyoneelse,ifIcanpossiblyhelpit.I'vepromisedtodothismyself,andIwill”andJackwaggedhisheadresolutely. “Couldn'tyoudosomethingwiththeprinting-press?Domesomecards,andthen,perhaps,theothergirlswillwantsome,”saidJill,asaforlornhope. “Justthething!WhatagooseIwasnottothinkofit.I'llrigtheoldmachineupatonce.”And,startingfromhisseat,Jackdivedintothebigcloset,draggedoutthelittlepress,andfelltooiling,dusting,andputtingitinorder,likeonerelievedofagreatanxiety. “GivemethetypesI'llsortthemandsetupmyname,soyoucanbeginassoonasyouareready.YouknowwhatahelpIwaswhenwedidtheprogrammes.I'malmostsurethegirlswillwantcards,andIknowyourmotherwouldlikesomemoretags,”saidJill,brisklyrattlingthelettersintothedifferentcompartments,whileJackinkedtherollersandhunteduphisbigapron,whistlingthewhilewithrecoveredspirits. Adozenneatcardsweresoonprinted,andJillinsistedonpayingsixcentsforthem,asearningwasnotborrowing.AfewoddtagswerefoundanddoneforMamma,whoimmediatelyorderedfourdozenatsixcentsadozen,thoughshewasnottoldwhytherewassuchapressingcallformoney. Jack'smonthlyhalf-dollarhadbeenspentthefirstweek,—twenty-fivecentsforaconcert,tenpaidafineforkeepingabooktoolongfromthelibrary,tenmoretohavehisknifeground,andfiveincandy,forhedearlylovedsweeties,andwasunderbondstoMammanottospendmorethanfivecentsamonthontheseunwholesometemptations.Sheneveraskedtheboyswhattheydidwiththeirmoney,butexpectedthemtokeepaccountinthelittlebooksshegavethemand,nowandthen,theyshowedtheneatpageswithpardonablepride,thoughsheoftenlaughedatthequeeritems. AllthateveningJack&Co.workedbusily,forwhenFrankcameinhegood-naturedlyorderedsomepale-pinkcardsforAnnette,andrantothestoretochoosetherightshade,andbuysomepackagesfortheyoungprinteralso. “Whatdoyousupposeheisinsuchapuckerfor?”whisperedJill,asshesetupthenewname,toFrank,whosatcloseby,withoneeyeonhisbookandoneonher. “Oh,somenotion.He'saqueerchapbutIguessitisn'tmuchofascrape,orIshould