Part 16 (1/2)
He thought over the situation, and then started for his boarding-house, satisfied that it would do no good to search farther for the book-keeper that night.
As has been mentioned, the boarding-house was up in Tenth Street. Hal soon walked the distance, and, getting out his night-key, he let himself in.
He was about to ascend to his room, and wash up a bit before going to supper, when the sounds of voices broke upon his ear, coming from the parlor.
”And he has your place, d.i.c.k?” he heard Mrs. Ricket, the boarding mistress say.
”Yes, he has, Aunt Amanda,” returned the voice of d.i.c.k Ferris.
”It's too bad.”
”How did you come to allow the tramp in the house?”
”He paid in advance, d.i.c.k, and he appeared to be a very nice young fellow.”
”Nice!”
”Yes. What is wrong about him?”
”He was brought up in a poor-house.”
”Who said so?”
”Never mind, I know it for a fact.”
”Well, even that wouldn't make him a bad boy.”
”But you don't want any tramps around here, do you?”
”He isn't a tramp so long as he works and pays his board.”
”You say he paid in advance?”
”Yes, for one week. He said he would pay two, if I wished it.”
”Then you can make sure there is something wrong about him. Better look out for your silverware.”
Mrs. Ricket laughed.
”A robber would never make much out of what little I possess, d.i.c.k,” she replied.
”Still, you wouldn't want to lose it.”
”I'll trust Carson.”
”Well, have your own way. He's a tramp, and I don't want anything to do with him.”
”What makes you so down on him?”