He had barely passed the gate when another boy came shuffling along -- a tall , raw-boned lad , with an insinuating smile and shifty , cunning eyes . The newcomer nodded familiarly to Dan . `` Hello , sonny . Going over to the Lake with your catch , are you ? You 'll fry up before you get there . There 'll be nothing left of you but a crisp . '' `` No , I 'm not going to the Lake . I 'm going up to the factory to see Mr. Walters . '' Sam French gave a long whistle of surprise . `` Why , Dan , what 's taking you there ? You surely ai n't thinking of trying for that place , are you ? Walters would n't look at you . Why , he would n't take me ! You have n't the ghost of a chance . '' `` No , I 'm not going for that . Sam , did you know that Mr. Walters had a notice in the Lake Advertiser that nobody could fish in his pond this summer ? '' `` Course I did -- the old skinflint ! He 's too mean to live , that 's what . He never goes near the pond himself . Regular dog in the manger , he is .
Dad says -- '' `` XXXXX , why did n't you tell me about that notice ? ''
Dan French Lake Sam Walters chance ghost left manger skinflint