CHAPTER III.
TOM ASKS A LOAN.
"I don't know what service you can do me," said Squire Hudsonincredulously.
His manner implied: "I am a rich man and you are a poor boy. How can youpossibly serve me?"
"Have you lost anything lately?" inquired Tom, coming at once tobusiness.
I suppose most men, when asked such a question, would first think oftheir pocket-books. It was so with Squire Hudson. He hastily thrust hishand into his pocket, and found--a large hole, through which, doubtless,the wallet had slipped.
"I have lost my wallet," he said anxiously. "Have you found it?"
In reply Tom produced the missing article. The squire took it hurriedly,and, at once opening it, counted the money. It was all there, and heheaved a sigh of relief, for he was a man who cared for money more thanmost people.
"Where did you find it?" he asked.
Tom answered the question.
"It is very fortunate you came along before anyone else saw it. I rodethat way on horse-back this morning. I told Mrs. Hudson that my pocketneeded repairing, but she put it off, according to her usual custom. Ifit had not been found, I would have kept her on short allowance for ayear to come."
Tom felt rather embarrassed, for, of course, it would not do to join inwith the squire in his complaints of his wife. Suddenly Squire Hudsonsaid, eying him keenly: "Do you know how much money there is in thiswallet?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you counted it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why did you do it?"
"I wanted to know how much there was, so that no one might blame me ifany were missing."
"Didn't you want to take any?" asked the squire bluntly.
"Yes," answered Tom promptly.
"Why didn't you? For fear you would be found out?"
"That may have had something to do with it, but it was principallybecause it would have been stealing and stealing is wrong."
"What would you have done with the money if you had taken it?"
"Started for California next week," answered Tom directly.
"Eh?" ejaculated the squire, rather astonished. "Why do you want to goto California--a boy like you?"
"To dig gold. I suppose a boy can dig gold, as well as a man. Theredoesn't seem to be much chance for me here. There's nothing to do but towork on the farm, and father and Walter can do all there is to be donethere."
"How is your father getting along?" asked the rich man, with an interestwhich rather surprised Tom.
"Poorly," said Tom. "He makes both ends meet; but we all have to dowithout a great many things that we need."
The squire looked thoughtful. He took half a dollar from his wallet andtendered it to Tom.
"You've done me a service," he said. "Take that."
Tom drew back.
"I would rather not take money for being honest," he said.
"That's all nonsense," said Squire Hudson sharply.
"That's the way I feel about it," said Tom stoutly.
"Then you're a fool."
"I hope not, sir."
"This would have been quite a large loss to me. I am perfectly willingto give you this money."
Then Tom gathered courage and said boldly, "You can do me a great favor,Squire Hudson, if you choose."
"What is it?"
"Lend me enough money to go to California," said Tom nervously.
"Good gracious! Is the boy crazy?" ejaculated the astonished squire.
"No, sir, I am not crazy. I'll tell you what my plans are. I shall go towork directly I get there, and shall devote the first money I make topaying you. Of course, I shall expect to pay high interest. I am willingto pay you three hundred dollars for two; unless I am sick, I think Ican do it inside of twelve months."
"How much money do you suppose you will need for this wild-gooseexpedition?"
"About two hundred dollars, sir; and, as I just said, I will give you mynote for three."
"A boy's note is worth nothing."
"Perhaps it isn't in law; but I wouldn't rest till it was paid back."
"What security have you to offer?"
"None, sir, except my word."
"Do you know what I would be if I lent you this money?"
"You would be very kind."
"Pish! I should be a fool."
"I don't think you'd lose anything by it, sir; but, of course, I can'tblame you for refusing," and Tom rose to go.
"Sit down again," said the squire; "I want to talk to you about thismatter. How long have you been thinking of California?"
"Only two or three days, sir."
"What made you think of it?"
"I wanted to help father."
"Who has told you about California?"
"I have read about it in the papers."
"Have you spoken to your father about going there?"
"I have spoken to him about leaving home, and seeking my fortune; but Ihave not mentioned going to California, because I thought it impossibleto raise the necessary money."
"Of course. That's sensible, at least."
Squire Hudson rose and walked thoughtfully about the room, occasionallycasting a keen glance at Tom, who remained sitting, with his pail ofhuckleberries in his cap.
After a while the squire spoke again.
"Your father might let you have the money," he suggested.
"My father has no money to spare," said Tom quickly.
"Couldn't he raise some?"
"I don't know how."
"Then I'll tell you. I hold a mortgage for two thousand dollars on hisfarm. I suppose you know that?"
"Yes, sir."
"I might be willing to increase the mortgage to twenty-two hundred, andhe could lend you the extra two hundred."
This was a new idea to Tom, and he took a little time to think it over.
"I don't like to ask father to do that," he said. "He finds it very hardnow to pay the interest on the mortgage."
"I thought you intended to pay the money in a year," said the squiresharply.
"So I do," said Tom, and he began to think more favorably of the plan.
"In that case your father wouldn't suffer."
"You are right, sir. If father would only consent to do so, I would behappy. But I might die."
"Your father would have to take the risk of that. You can't expect meto."
This seemed fair enough, and, in fact, the danger didn't seem verygreat to Tom. He was about sixteen; and to a boy of sixteen death seemsvery far off, provided he is strong and vigorous, as Tom was. He rapidlydecided that the squire's offer was not to be refused without carefulconsideration. It opened to him a career which looked bright andpromising. Once in California, what could he not do? Tom was hopeful andsanguine, and did not allow himself to think of failure.
"I understand that you are willing to advance the money, Squire Hudson?"he said, determined to know just what to depend upon.
"I will advance two hundred dollars, on condition that your father willsecure me by an increased mortgage. It is no particular object to me,for I can readily invest the money in some other way."
"I will speak to father about it, Squire Hudson, and meanwhile I amthankful to you for making the offer."
"Very well. Let me know as soon as possible," said the squirecarelessly.
As Tom went out, the rich man soliloquized: "I have no faith in theboy's scheme, and I don't believe half the stories they tell about theCalifornia mines; but it will give me an extra hold on Nelson, andhasten the day when the farm will come into my hands. When Mary Nelsonrefused my hand I resolved some day to have my revenge. I have waitedlong, but it will come at last. When she and her children are paupers,she may regret the slight she put upon me."