"Oh, well, you could help him, and so get still more fun out of
it, he not knowing, of course, that you had anything to do with
letting them out."

"And that would take me out of the shop for a couple of hours,"
said Dick, brightening at the thought.

"Of course," said John; "so you would get a double advantage.
Come, what do you say?"

"Well, I don't know," said Dick, wavering. "You'd pay me the
money down on the nail, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," said John. "I'll show you the bill now."

He took from his pocketbook a two-dollar greenback, and displayed
it to Dick.

"You could buy cigars enough with this to last you some time," he
said insinuatingly.

"So I could. I declare, I've a good mind to take up your offer."

"You'd better. It's a good one."

"But why don't you do it yourself?" asked Dick, with sudden
wonder.

"Because father's very strict," said John glibly, "and if I