might have seen me, and they would have known that I was
hooking jack."

"Then you ought not to share the money."

"Yes, I had. When a fellow is with you, he ought to have half. It is
mean not to give him half."

"If you had done anything to help stop the horse, I would have shared
with you. But you didn't."

"What of that?"

Bobby was particularly sensitive in regard to the charge of
meanness. His soul was a great deal bigger than his body, and he was
always generous, even to his own injury, among his companions. It was
evident to him that Tom had no claim to any part of the reward; but he
could not endure the thought even of being accused of meanness.

"I'll tell you what I will do, if you think I ought to share with
you. I will leave it out to Squire Lee; and if he thinks you ought to
have half, or any part of the money, I will give it to you."

"No, you don't; you want to get me into a scrape for hooking jack. I
see what you are up to."

"I will state the case to him without telling him who the boys are."

"No, you don't! You want to be mean about it. Come, hand over half the
money."

"I will not," replied Bobby, who, when it became a matter of
compulsion, could stand his ground at any peril.

"How much have you got?"

"Thirty-five dollars."

"By jolly! And you mean to keep it all yourself?"

"I mean to give it to my mother."

"No, you won't! If you are going to be mean about it, I'll smash your
head!"

This was a favorite expression with Tom Spicer, who was a noted bully
among the boys of Riverdale. The young ruffian now placed himself in
front of Bobby, and shook his clenched fist in his face.

"Hand over."

"No, I won't. You have no claim to any part of the money; at least, I
think you have not. If you have a mind to leave it out to Squire Lee,
I will do what is right about it."

"Not I; hand over, or I'll smash your head!"

"Smash away," replied Bobby, placing himself on the defensive.

"Do you think you can lick me?" asked Tom, not a little embarrassed by
this exhibition of resolution on the part of his companion.

"I don't think anything about it; but you don't bully me in that kind
of style."

"Won't I?"

"No."

But Tom did not immediately put his threat in execution, and Bobby
would not be the aggressor; so he stepped one side to pass his
assailant. Tom took this as an evidence of the other's desire to
escape, and struck him a heavy blow on the side of the head. The next