afford.

Divining the reason of his refusal, the waitress smiled:

"You get either tea or coffee with the order. It doesn't cost any more."

"Then I'll have coffee," replied Bob.

And as the waitress went to bring his order, he again felt in his pocket
to make sure he had the money with which to pay for his meal.

As the heaping plate of beans--for the waitress had not been scrimping
in her measure--was set before Bob, together with the rich brown bread
and coffee, it seemed to him that never had anything smelled quite so
savory, and he began to eat as though he were famished.

Though the plate of beans had been heaping, so good did they taste to
Bob, that he could not resist the temptation of ordering more, and
calling the waitress to him, he asked:

"If I have a second plate, will it cost less?"

For a moment the girl was on the point of laughing at him, but the
wistful seriousness of his face checked the outburst of merriment on her
lips, and instead she replied, in a kindly tone:

"What's the matter, kid? Haven't you any money?"

"Oh, yes," Bob hastened to reassure her.

"Well, if you have money enough, what's to prevent your ordering as much
as you want?"

For a moment Bob contemplated the question from this new viewpoint, but,
unable to decide, observed:

"I don't just know as I ought to spend any more."

"Isn't the money yours?"

"Oh, yes, it's not that," rejoined Bob, and then, after hesitating a
moment, he determined to leave the decision to this girl, whose face
showed that she was kind and sympathetic, and he said:

"You see, it's this way: I'm going out West, and I haven't got much
money, and I'm afraid I'll spend too much, because I don't just know how
much it will take."

"Well, if I was you, I'd eat all I wanted while I had the money. If
you've got to 'hobo' your way, there'll be times when you'll probably be
without both food and money."

This reasoning struck Bob as being eminently practical, and he was on
the point of ordering another plate, when the girl made it unnecessary
by saying:

"I'll stake you to another plate, if you want the beans very much. It's
just about time for me to eat my supper, and I will bring it over to
your table and eat with you, and I'll make them think the beans are for
me."

Bob wasn't quite sure whether such a plan was all right or not, but he
had a healthy boy's appetite for beans, and so he made no objection.

"You are very kind," he said, when