Chapter XIV. And Jill Finds It Out

himup.Hewouldn'tgetanywagesforsometime.TheCaptainkeepshimshortonpurpose,Iguess,andwon'tlethimcomedowntownexceptonSundays.Hedidn'twantanyonetoknowaboutit,forfearhe'dlosehisplace.SoIpromisedIwouldn'ttell.ThenIwasafraidJerrywouldgoandmakeafuss,andBobwouldrunoff,ordosomethingdesperate,beingworried,andIsaidI'dpayitforhim,ifIcould.Sohewenthomeprettyjolly,andIscratched'roundforthemoney.Gotit,too,andwasn'tIglad?” Jackpausedtorubhishands,andFranksaid,withmorethanusualrespect, “Couldn'tyougetholdofJerryinanyotherplace,andoutofschooltime?Thatdidthemischief,thankstoJoe.Ithrashedhim,Jill—didImentionit?” “Icouldn'tgetallmymoneytillFridaymorning,andIknewJerrywasoffatnight.Ilookedforhimbeforeschool,andatnoon,butcouldn'tfindhim,soafternoonrecesswasmylastchance.IwasboundtodoitandIdidn'tmeantobreaktherule,butJerrywasjustgoingintotheshop,soIpeltedafterhim,andasitwasprivatebusinesswewenttothebilliard-room.IdeclareIneverwassorelievedaswhenIhandedoverthatmoney,andmadehimsayitwasallright,andhewouldn'tgonearBob.He'soff,somymindiseasy,andBobwillbesogratefulIcankeephimsteady,perhaps.Thatwillbeworthtwoseventy-five,Ithink,”saidJackheartily. “Youshouldhavecometome,”beganFrank. “Andgotlaughedat—no,thankyou,”interruptedJack,recollectingseveralphilanthropiclittleenterpriseswhichwerenippedinthebudforwantofco-operation. “Tome,then,”saidhismother.“Itwouldhavesavedsomuchtrouble.” “Ithoughtofit,butBobdidn'twantthebigfellowstoknowforfearthey'dbedownonhim,soIthoughthemightnotlikemetotellgrownpeople.Idon'tmindthefussnow,andBobisaskindashecanbe.Wantedtogivemehisbigknife,butIwouldn'ttakeit.I'dratherhavethis,”andJackputtheletterinhispocketwithaslapoutside,asifitwarmedthecocklesofhishearttohaveitthere. “Well,itseemsratherlikeatempestinateapot,nowitisallover,butIdoadmireyourpluck,littleboy,inholdingoutsowellwheneveryonewasscoldingatyou,andyouintherightallthetime,”saidFrank,gladtopraise,nowthathehonestlycould,afterhiswholesalecondemnation. “Thatiswhatpulledmethrough,Isuppose.IusedtothinkifIhaddoneanythingwrong,thatIcouldn'tstandthesnubbingaday.Ishouldhavetoldrightoff,andhaditover.Now,IguessI'llhaveagoodreportifyoudotellMr.Acton,”saidJack,lookingathismothersowistfully,thatsheresolvedtoslipawaythatveryevening,andmakesurethatthethingwasdone. “Thatwillmakeyouhappierthananythingelse,won'tit?”askedJill,eagertohavehimrewardedafterhistrials. “There'sonethingIlikebetter,thoughI'dbeverysorrytolosemyreport.It'sthefunoftellingEdItriedtodoashewantedusto,andseeinghowpleasedhe'llbe,”addedJack,ratherbashfully,fortheboyslaughedathimsometimesforhisloveofthisfriend. “Iknowhewon'tbeanyhappieraboutitthansomeoneelse,whostoodbyyouallthrough,andsetherbrightwitstoworktillthetroublewasallclearedaway,”saidMrs.Minot,lookingatJill'scontentedface,asshelaysmilingonthemall. Jackunderstood,and,hoppingacrosstheroom,gaveboththethinhandsaheartyshakethen,notfindinganywordsquitecordialenoughinwhichtothankthisfaithfullittlesister,hestoopeddownandkissedhergratefully.