`` The Carleton boys would n't patronize a rink run by you . '' Old Dutcher 's eyes twinkled . It did not displease him to know that the Carleton boys hated him . In fact , it seemed as if he rather liked it . `` Besides , '' went on Ned , `` you could n't afford the time . You could n't be on the pond for eight hours a day and until ten o'clock at night . I can , as I 've nothing else to do just now . If I had , I would n't have to be trying to make money by a skating-rink . '' Old Dutcher scowled . Ten dollars was ten dollars and , as Ned had said , he knew very well that he could not run a rink by himself . `` Well , '' he said , half reluctantly , `` I suppose I 'll let you go ahead . Only remember I 'll hold you responsible if anything happens . '' Ned went home in high spirits . By the next day he had placards out in conspicuous places -- on the schoolhouse , at the forge , at Mr. Rogers 's store , and at Winterby Corners -- announcing that he had rented Mr. Dutcher 's pond for a skating-rink , and that tickets for the same at twenty-five cents a week for each skater could be had upon application to him . Ned was not long left in doubt as to the success of his enterprise . It was popular from the start . There were about fifty boys in Carleton and Winterby , and they all patronized the rink freely . At first Ned had some trouble with two or three rowdies , who tried to evade his rules . He was backed up , however , by Old Dutcher 's reputation and by the public opinion of the other boys , as well as by his own undoubted muscle , and soon had everything going smoothly . The rink flourished amain , and everybody , even Old Dutcher , was highly pleased .
XXXXX the end of the season Ned paid Old Dutcher his ten dollars , and had plenty left to pay for books and tuition at the business college in Trenton .
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