Part 30 (2/2)

”I do sewing and mending for my neighbors--princ.i.p.ally mending for the girls who work in the stores.”

”And can you make much that way?”

”Not a great deal. But I try to make enough to pay the rent and store bills. May I ask what you are going to do in New York?”

”I came to find a real estate dealer named Alexander Sloc.u.m. I want to see him about some property left by my uncle to my father. Have you ever heard of him?”

”Heard of him?” she cried in surprise. ”He is my landlord.”

Jerry was dumfounded by this unexpected bit of information.

”You are certain?”

”Why, of course I am. He was around to see me only day before yesterday about the rent. I am a bit behind, and I had to put him off.”

”And what kind of a man is he?”

”I think he is very hard-hearted. But then, that may be because I am behind in my payment. He threatened to put me out of my rooms if I didn't pay when he called again.”

”How many rooms have you?”

”Only two, and I pay six dollars a month for them.”

”And how far behind are you?”

”I only owe for the month.”

”And he won't trust you even that long? He certainly must be mean,” Jerry rejoined warmly.

”You said something about property belonging to your father,” said Nellie Ardell. ”Has Mr. Sloc.u.m an interest in it?”

”He has and he hasn't,” the boy replied, and he told his story in a few words as they walked along to the entrance of the house in which she lived.

”Well, I trust you get your right, Jerry Upton,” said the girl. ”Come and see me some time.”

”I will,” and after Jerry had procured Alexander Sloc.u.m's office address from her, the pair separated.

Jerry was very thoughtful as he proceeded on his way. By a turn of fortune he had gotten on Sloc.u.m's track much quicker than expected. The question was, how should he best approach the man?

”I'll settle that after I have procured a boarding place,” he thought, and hurried to the address given him.

Mrs. Price, the landlady, was a very nice old person. She had a top room in the back she said she would let with board, for five dollars a week, and Jerry closed with her without delay, paying for one week in advance.

This finished, our hero found he was hungry, and after a was.h.i.+ng-up, ate supper with a relish. He could not help but notice that the vegetables and milk served were not as fresh as those at home, but remembered he was now in the city and not on a farm, and did not complain.

Mrs. Price had taken in another new boarder that day, a tall, slim man, possibly thirty years of age. He was introduced as Mr. Wakefield Smith, and he did all he could to make himself popular. Jerry felt that a good bit of his pleasantry was forced, but as there was no use in finding fault, he became quite friendly with the man.

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