Part 20 (2/2)

d.i.c.k responded by drawing seventy-five cents from his pocket, and placing it in her hand.

”What's your business, sir, if I may inquire?” said Mrs. Mooney.

”Oh, I'm professional!” said d.i.c.k.

”Indeed!” said the landlady, who did not feel much enlightened by this answer.

”How's Tom?” asked d.i.c.k.

”Do you know my Tom?” said Mrs. Mooney in surprise. ”He's gone to sea,--to Californy. He went last week.”

”Did he?” said d.i.c.k. ”Yes, I knew him.”

Mrs. Mooney looked upon her new lodger with increased favor, on finding that he was acquainted with her son, who, by the way, was one of the worst young scamps in Mott Street, which is saying considerable.

”I'll bring over my baggage from the Astor House this evening,” said d.i.c.k in a tone of importance.

”From the Astor House!” repeated Mrs. Mooney, in fresh amazement.

”Yes, I've been stoppin' there a short time with some friends,” said d.i.c.k.

Mrs. Mooney might be excused for a little amazement at finding that a guest from the Astor House was about to become one of her lodgers--such transfers not being common.

”Did you say you was purfessional?” she asked.

”Yes, ma'am,” said d.i.c.k, politely.

”You aint a--a--” Mrs. Mooney paused, uncertain what conjecture to hazard.

”Oh, no, nothing of the sort,” said d.i.c.k, promptly. ”How could you think so, Mrs. Mooney?”

”No offence, sir,” said the landlady, more perplexed than ever.

”Certainly not,” said our hero. ”But you must excuse me now, Mrs.

Mooney, as I have business of great importance to attend to.”

”You'll come round this evening?”

d.i.c.k answered in the affirmative, and turned away.

”I wonder what he is!” thought the landlady, following him with her eyes as he crossed the street. ”He's got good clothes on, but he don't seem very particular about his room. Well; I've got all my rooms full now. That's one comfort.”

d.i.c.k felt more comfortable now that he had taken the decisive step of hiring a lodging, and paying a week's rent in advance. For seven nights he was sure of a shelter and a bed to sleep in. The thought was a pleasant one to our young vagrant, who hitherto had seldom known when he rose in the morning where he should find a resting-place at night.

”I must bring my traps round,” said d.i.c.k to himself. ”I guess I'll go to bed early to-night. It'll feel kinder good to sleep in a reg'lar bed. Boxes is rather hard to the back, and aint comfortable in case of rain. I wonder what Johnny Nolan would say if he knew I'd got a room of my own.”

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