Proudly escorting his mother to the stable, Tad exhibited the vehicle
that he had spent many nights putting together. It was truly a
creditable piece of work, and Mrs. Butler made her son happy by
telling him so.

Tad's business venture had proved more profitable than even he had
dreamed, and the owners of cars breaking down on the rough road made
frequent use of the invitation extended on the sign. Soon, however,
there were so many calls during the day, when the young man was at
school, that he was considering the advisability of taking in a
partner who would attend to the towing when he was not available. The
only reason Tad hesitated was because he feared his assistant would
not be considerate of Jinny. Yet this, he told himself, should not
deter him from making the move the moment he found the right sort of a
boy to go in with him.

During the past week there had been frequent conferences between
Mrs. Butler and Banker Perkins, and on several occasions Tad's mother
had called at the hank in person. Of all this the young man knew
nothing. But one afternoon something did occur to stir him more
profoundly than he ever had been stirred before.

Ned Rector had called a meeting of the Pony Rider Boys, and the word
was passed that important business was coining up for discussion.

Tad said he could not spare the time from his business down the road.

"I wish you would take the afternoon off," advised his mother. "You
have been working hard of late, and I imagine the boys will have