around here they might arrest me on suspicion of setting the hay on
fire. I'll keep on. Maybe something will turn up."

"Then take this money," said Bert, handing the tramp a quarter. "You
can get something to eat with it."




CHAPTER VIII

ON THE LAKE


The tramp seemed overcome by emotion. He held the quarter which Bert
had given him as though he did not know what to do with it.

"It's a good one," said the lad, with a smile.

"Oh, I wasn't thinking that," was the answer. "It--it seems queer to
have any one decently civil to me, that's all. I tell you, I
appreciate it, young fellow. I've had a hard time of it. Maybe it was
mostly my own fault, but I certainly have had hard luck. I can't
afford to work for the wages they pay girls, and since I had to give
up my job I've been down and out. Nobody had a decent word to say to
me--especially since my clothes got to looking so bad."

"I wish I could do something else for you," said Bert. "But I haven't
any more money. You see, we boys are trying to pay for that engine."