Part 6 (1/2)
”It's a wonder to ,” he ular tyrant, and ought to move to Russia How poor father ever cah hih, and for an instant an unusually sober look crossed his handsome face ”If only I could learn what became of poor father--if I could make sure whether he was alive or dead--I wouldn't care how otheras soon as I can afford to do so”
Matt boarded with a private fa else to do, he walked slowly to the place He wished he ht meet theof either When he arrived at the boarding-house it was still an hour to supper-ti over his wardrobe, for Matt was handy with a needle, and disliked to have buttons off or rent sea, and washi+ng up and co his hair, he went below He ate his portion leisurely, and was just finishi+ng when the landlady said there was a young lady to see hiht of Ida Bartlett, who lived but a few blocks aith her two sisters and her rapher
”I could not wait, Matt, and so came over just as soon as we had tea,”
she explained ”I want you to tellto do, now you are out of Mr Fenton's offices You spoke of having so better”
”I can't tell as to that yet,” returned the boy, and then sitting down beside her on the _tete-a-tete_, he told her of Andrew Dilks and the auctioneer's proposition
”That sounds as if it ,” said Ida Bartlett, when he had finished ”You are sure this Dilks is no sharper? There are lots of sharpers in the auction business, you know”
”Like the one who tried to hed Matt
”Exactly”
”Well, to tell the truth, I thought of that But Dilks doesn't look like a sharper; quite the contrary Of course, I'll have to keep reeht, at least not until I know hihly”
”In that case I think you will be safe”
”It is possible that we reement He has more money than I He may want somebody who can put up an equal amount”
”How much has he?”
”A hundred and thirty-five dollars”
”And that is a good deal more than you have, I suppose?”
”I have saved seventy-five dollars,” returned Matt, and not without some pride
”Is it possible! And on a salary of four dollars a week!”
”Not much! That salary only paid my way I saved theerrands for thes”
”I see It is very creditable to you”
”Yet Mr Fenton said I was lazy,” replied Matt bitterly
”Don't you care what he said He is a verythat out more and more every day I myself intend to leave just as soon as I can find another place I have been there three rapher only stayed two months, and the one before that, a rinned Matt ”They soon find out what kind of a man he is”