this was possible, as it was not certain they could raise the cash,
and, in the meantime, a sale to some other party might be lost.

But the chief sympathized with the boys. He took them around to the
chairman of the town committee, and the result of the visit was that
the official agreed to hold the engine for a week for the Lakeville
boys. If they could raise twenty dollars by that time they could take
the engine, and agree to pay the rest in installments.

Bert and Cole talked the matter over. They thought this was possible,
and they agreed to it. The result was they hurried back to Lakeville,
with a written option on the engine, good for one week.

Their chums were hastily summoned, the matter talked over, and the
boys went down in their pockets for whatever small sums they had saved
up. The total was only eight dollars, but Bert proposed that they get
up an exhibition ball game and charge admission.

This was done, and, by hard work, doing all the odd jobs they could
find, the boys just managed to raise the twenty dollars, having made
seven at the ball game.

"Let's get right over to Jamesville, the first thing in the morning,"
proposed Cole, after the contest was over and he and Bert were
counting up the proceeds. "Maybe they'll sell it to some one else."

"Our time isn't up for two days."

"I know; but they might forget. Well start early."