Billy Bunter's Benefit By Frank Richards - Friardale

Billy Bunter’s Benefit
By Frank Richards
SOLD!
“THE fat idiot!” said Smithy.
“He’s up against it,” said Tom Redwing, mildly.
“Doesn’t it serve him right?”
“I suppose so. But—.”
The Bounder laughed mockingly. Redwing had a soft spot for any fellow
who was down on his luck, without considering too much whether it was
the fellow’s own fault or not. Smithy was much more disposed to deride a
“lame duck.”
Billy Bunter’s dismal and lugubrious countenance, and the scrape the fat
Owl had landed himself in, only moved Smithy’s contemptuous mirth. Yet,
as it happened, there were thoughts in the Bounder’s mind that afternoon
that would have surprised his chum, and most of the Remove too. Smithy
had his moments when he was capable of kind and even generous actions.
And it was of just such an action that he was thinking now.
They were in the Rag after dinner. Redwing was biking up to Hawkscliff
that afternoon, to see his father, who was home from sea. Smithy’s bike
was not yet available, and he did not care to borrow one to ride with his
chum. No doubt that was partly the reason why he was thinking of Bunter
and his new bike. Smithy certainly did want a machine that afternoon.
Redwing had suggested hiring a bike at Parker’s. That would have been
easy enough. But Smithy was thinking of another solution.
Billy Bunter was in the Rag. He was looking as if he had collected most of
the troubles known to mankind.
He was still the happy—or unhappy—possessor of that new bike. His
notice that the bike was for “sail” was still stuck up on the wall. But there
had been no sale, and there did not seem a remote prospect of one. In his
pocket the fat Owl had Parker’s bill, and Parker’s “account rendered.” He
had not, so far, received any further literature from Mr. Parker: but he
dreaded receiving some by every post. Still more he dreaded that Mr.
Parker, getting no satisfaction, might “take steps.” It was a dismal and
apprehensive Owl.
He blinked at Vernon-Smith when the latter came in with Redwing, with
an inimical blink. Few fellows in the Remove could have afforded to take
that troublesome bike off Bunter’s hands: but Smithy certainly could, had
he so chosen. Bunter’s blink became still more inimical as the Bounder,
glancing at the “sail” notice on the wall, laughed. It was no laughing
matter—at least to Billy Bunter.
Page 54 of 161