One flight below, sir. Its a very nice bathroom, with an enamelled tub, sir. If youd care to look at it
By all means, maam, as we descend. You said the rent was
Four a week, sir.
Oh, no, indeed! For the school year, Mrs. Magoon.
I said four a week, sir.
And I said Oh, I see! Four dollars a week! You will have your joke, eh? The lady has a sense of humour, Rowland. You cant deny it.
It doesnt seem to me that its worth that much, said Ira dubiously.
Bless us, no! said Johnston. That was only her joke. Now, Mrs. Magoon, seriously, what do you ask by the month for this palatial apartment?
Its four dollars a week, young man, whether you pay weekly or monthly; although I have to insist on the bills not running no longer than a month.
No one can blame you. But youll find my friend here very prompt, maam, in such matters. I have never known him to let a bill run longer than a month. You might almost call him finicky in money matters. Considering that, now, suppose we say three dollars a week, with he shot a questioning glance at Ira two weeks paid in advance?
I couldnt do it, sir, replied the landlady firmly, arms akimbo. Three-seventy-five is my lowest figure, and nothing you could say
I dont think I want the room, thanks, interrupted Ira. Id have to buy a good many things for it to make it comfortable. Much obliged, maam.
Dont be hasty, old man. Think well. Rooms are scarce, as Mrs. Magoon will tell you, and at three and a half
Three-seventy-five, corrected the landlady.
You couldnt do better. Ill take you to a place where you can get anything you need for half of nothing and pay when you like. With another chair and a couch and a few pictures why, you wouldnt know the place! He wouldnt know the place, would he, maam?
Twould look better, no doubt. Theres the washstand yet, sir, and it helps to fill up, so to speak.
We-ell, began Ira, doubtfully.
Thats decided, then! exclaimed Johnston gaily. Have the room all ready in an hour, Mrs. Magoon. If youve got seven dollars where you can put your hand on it, Rowland, you might bind the bargain, eh?
If the lady wants to let me have it at three dollars and a half
She does! Hasnt she said so? You said three and a half, didnt you, Mrs. Magoon?
I did not!
No? My fault! But youre going to, eh? Rather than lose a tenant? Mrs. Magoon wavered. Here it is the last day, maam. School begins tomorrow. I guess everyones settled by this time. You wouldnt want the room to stay empty, now would you? Of course not! A bird in the hand, and all that, eh? Well, thats settled, what?
Mrs. Magoon nodded without enthusiasm. Its less than I ever took for it before, she said sadly. Then, brightening: Maybe the young man would want his breakfasts in? she asked hopefully. Many of them does.
Johnston was shaking his head violently, but neither the landlady nor Ira saw it.
Why, thanks, I How much are breakfasts? said Ira.
Twenty-five cents, sir. Coffee and toast and two eggs or a bit of meat.
Perhaps it would be more convenient than going out, mused Ira. All right, maam, Ill take breakfasts.
Fine! Come along, Rowland. Remember that Doctor Lane was very particular about having you let him know what you decided on. He will be anxious. Back in an hour, Mrs. Magoon.
If youd care to see the bathroom began Mrs. Magoon as they descended.
Not now, said Johnston, shoving Ira along toward the next flight. Im sure its absolutely perfect, maam. When they were once more on the street he turned sorrowfully to Ira. You shouldnt have let yourself in for the breakfasts, old man, he said. Theyre fierce. I tried to give you the sign, but you wouldnt look. Still, you can cut them out after a week or so. They all do.
I dare say the room will look better when theres more in it, said Ira.
Rather! Youll be crazy about it, old man.
Or in it, said Ira drily. Johnston preferred not to notice the remark.
And three-fifty isnt bad these days, either.
I guess Id rather pay her what she asked, Johnston. She says she never let it for so little, and
Yes, but her memorys failing her. Johnny Grew had that room two years ago, and I happen to remember that he paid exactly three and a half for it. Besides, shell make it up on the breakfasts. Now lets run around to Jacobs and see what we can pick up. Better leave the buying to me, old man, for in spite of being a Maine Yankee, youre a mighty poor bargainer!
Im taking up a lot of your time, Ira demurred.
I like it. Besides, Ive got nothing on until the five-twelve gets in. He was silent for a full minute, something so unusual that Ira viewed him in surprise. Then, with an odd lack of assurance, he said: About that newel post now, Rowland. I you see
All right, said Ira. I understand.
Eh? asked the other startledly. Hold on, though! No, you dont, old man.
All right. I dont care, anyway.
But you mustnt think I took you around there on that account. Fact is, Id quite forgotten about it. Johnston chuckled. Guess if Id remembered it Id have stayed away. But when she sprang it on me, why why, then I thought I might as well square myself. He looked uncertainly at Ira. See what I mean?
Oh, yes.
Well well Oh, hang it, Rowland! Now, look here. You dont need to take that room if youd rather not. I guess I did sort of force your hand. Well go back now and get the money and tell her its off. Come on! Id feel a lot better. Then well look somewhere else. Hang it, it was only a dollar, and Im switched if I want to look like a piker for just a little old dollar! Come on back!
But Ira shook his head. When you know me better, Johnston, he said with a smile, youll find that its awfully hard to make me do anything I dont want to. If I hadnt thought the room would answer Id never have taken it, no matter what you might have said. I dont think its palatial, but I do think it will do well enough, and if Mrs. Magoon lets you off about the newel post on my account Im glad of it. I owe you that much, anyhow, for all your trouble. Just the same, Im glad you didnt didnt take me around there on purpose.
I didnt, honestly, old man. Id forgotten all about it. But youre quite sure its all right, eh? Sure you really want to take the room?
Certain sure.
Well, youre a brick. I guess Ill drop around and pay Maggy her money, just the same. Any fellow ought to, I should think. Ill do it this afternoon while Ive got it. Well, thats settled. And heres the emporium of our friend Jacobs.
Open the door and tinkle the bell:
You want to buy and I want to sell!
CHAPTER III
GETTING SETTLED
Half an hour later Ira was the proud possessor Now thats what comes of using phrases. Its a poor habit. As a matter of honest fact, no one could have been really proud of the articles purchased in Mr. Joseph Jacobs Second-hand Emporium. First, there were the remains of a window seat. Ira had viewed it distastefully until Johnston it had developed that his first name was Martin and that he was usually called Mart assured him that with a hammer and four nails and a bit o luck he could fix it as good as new. Then came a leather couch. The frame, springs and hair were quite serviceable, but the leather well, Mart said it was a crime, and well let it go at that. But, he pointed out, all youve got to do is throw something over it, old man, and no one will know. Havent you some trifle like a Paisley shawl or a Persian rug about your person? Never mind, well find something. And five dollars is dirt cheap for it. Why, its worth that much for fuel, and you want to remember that youve got a perfectly good grate to feed when Winter comes. Well take it, Jacobs.
CHAPTER III
GETTING SETTLED
Half an hour later Ira was the proud possessor Now thats what comes of using phrases. Its a poor habit. As a matter of honest fact, no one could have been really proud of the articles purchased in Mr. Joseph Jacobs Second-hand Emporium. First, there were the remains of a window seat. Ira had viewed it distastefully until Johnston it had developed that his first name was Martin and that he was usually called Mart assured him that with a hammer and four nails and a bit o luck he could fix it as good as new. Then came a leather couch. The frame, springs and hair were quite serviceable, but the leather well, Mart said it was a crime, and well let it go at that. But, he pointed out, all youve got to do is throw something over it, old man, and no one will know. Havent you some trifle like a Paisley shawl or a Persian rug about your person? Never mind, well find something. And five dollars is dirt cheap for it. Why, its worth that much for fuel, and you want to remember that youve got a perfectly good grate to feed when Winter comes. Well take it, Jacobs.
The easy-chair was not as easy as it looked. About the only thing easy, except its appearance, was the price. It was one of those brown-oak contraptions with a back that let down to form various angles with the seat. Unfortunately each succeeding angle was more uncomfortable than the last. Old Man Mission, observed Mart, may have been a dandy carpenter, but he was a mighty poor comforter! They picked up some hanging book shelves for sixty cents and two rugs only half worn out for a dollar apiece and, finally, an oak table-desk with a column of drawers at one side, one of which would open without the use of a jimmy. Leaving instructions to have the furniture delivered not later than five oclock, they returned to Maggys.
Mart heroically paid Mrs. Magoon a dollar, much to that ladys bewilderment, and then they went up to the room. A decrepit walnut washstand was already in place, but Ira couldnt see that its presence added much to the apartment. They tried it in three places and at last returned it to its original position, restoring the casters which it had sprinkled around the room in its travels. Then Mart threw himself into the plush chair and stretched his legs out and viewed the room thoughtfully.
Better make a list of things to buy, old man, he advised. All ready? Paper of tacks and a hammer better get a real hammer and not one of those playthings; a hammers always useful , two brass curtain rods By Crickey, we forgot curtains! Never mind, though, well get those at Alstons. We can get the rods there, too. And youd ought to have a cloth for that table. Every fellow ought to have a cloth on his table, I should think. And lets see He looked around the room inquiringly.
I guess thats enough for today, said Ira. The next thing is to get my trunk over from the station. I suppose theres an expressman around somewhere.
Come on down with me at five and give your check to Harris. He does most of the school work and wont mind lugging it up two flights. Some of them expect ten cents more for that. Lets get cooled off a bit and then buy the curtains, eh? Curtains will make a lot of difference, I tell you! Ill borrow a yard-stick or something from Maggy and measure the windows.
When that had been done they sailed forth again. There was one excellent feature about Iras abode, and that was its convenience to the shops. Alstons dry goods store was only a half block away, across School Street, and soon they were viewing muslin and scrim curtains which an obliging saleslady hung over big brass rods. Mart found that he might as well have spared himself the trouble of taking measurements, for the curtains were all the same length. They finally selected two pairs of what the young lady called cross-barred muslin and purchased rods and fixtures. Subsequently they visited a hardware store and bought the hammer and the paper of tacks and a small quantity of nails. When they got back to Number 200 Main Street they found an expressman struggling upstairs with the leather couch, followed grimly by the landlady who exhorted him at every step to mind the plaster now!
When the new purchases were in place the room did look a lot better, and when Mart had, after much difficulty, put up the rods and pinned the curtains over them the two boys viewed the result with deep satisfaction. Its the little touches that do it, proclaimed Mart. Now when we get a cloth
But they had forgotten the cloth for the table, as well as the drape for the couch, and had also neglected to provide anything in the way of a cushion for the window seat. But Rome was not built in a day, said Mart cheerfully. I forget how long it took, but it was more likely a week. Now, in a week you wont know this place, Rowland. Got any pictures to hang on this lovely yaller paper?
No, but I can get some, answered Ira, regarding the paper distastefully. Wish I could get enough to hide the walls entirely!
Put up half a dozen and hang a pennant over the door and stick a few posters around and you wont notice the walls at all. And if I were you Id buy a can of brown paint and go over this border again. That colour on there now makes me sort of faint. What time might it be?
Twenty to five.
Geewhillikins! Wheres the afternoon got to? Here, Ill knock this window seat together and then beat it. Wheres that hammer? Dont tell me Oh, all right! Toss it over. Nails? Thank you, sir. Now then, you rickety, tumble-down, lob-sided bunch of boards, how do you go, anyhow? I say, Rowland, theres a leg missing! I didnt notice that, did you? Never mind. It wont matter if you dont sit on that corner, and some time you can nail a piece of board on there. Say, this thing is a regular Chinese puzzle! Know what I think? Well, I think hes gone and sold us parts of two different seats!
But he wronged Mr. Jacobs, for ultimately the sections fitted together, and when they did the two boys looked at the result in silence and then burst into howls of laughter. The window seat had been built for a corner! No matter how they struggled with it it remained L-shaped! If half of it ran across a window the other half stuck out into the room at right angles like a sore thumb! Ira subsided on the bed and Mart sprawled himself on the floor and they laughed until they were weak.
Well, said Mart finally, either youve got to change your room or this seat, and I guess the seats the easier. Now look here. If we turn this end around, so, and tack a couple of short boards on here
Oh, dont! begged Ira. Dont spoil it! It its beautiful!
Oh, well, if you wont be serious, laughed Mart, dropping his hammer. Lets leave it until tomorrow. Ive got to meet Brad at five-twelve. Put your hat on and come along. Bring your trunk check, by the way. Hang it, quit laughing! Get a move on, you you idjit!
Y-yes, but but look at it, Johnston! gasped Ira. Isnt it funny?
Its killing, agreed the other, grinning. I say, why not leave it that way just for a joke?
I Im going to! I l-like it!
Well, dont cry, old man! Pull yourself together! Heres your hat. Now come on. Weve only got eight minutes.
The railway station was four blocks south and by the time Ira had arranged for the delivery of his trunk and rescued his suitcase from the parcel room those eight minutes were gone and the express was rumbling in. Mart left Ira at the waiting-room door, with instructions not to move until he returned, and was presently pushing his way through the throng of arriving students in search of his roommate. Ira, however, concluded that he would only be in the way. The chums would of course have lots to say to each other and he didnt believe that either of them would really be any happier for his presence. So, before the new arrivals had more than overflowed the platform, he was on his way uptown again, the heavy suitcase, into which at the last moment he had forced a lot of things that had been intended for the trunk, tugging at his arm. Station carriages, filled to capacity with merry youths, began to pass him before he reached Main Street and turned toward his lodgings, but he saw nothing of Mart.