Part 39 (2/2)
”How much do you owe him?”
”Twelve dollars. I have four, but he won't take it. He wants the entire amount.”
”I will let you have ten dollars,” said our hero, and brought out the bill Wakefield Smith had dropped.
”Oh, won't that be robbing you?” cried Nellie Ardell, but her eyes glistened with pleasure.
”Never mind; take it and pay this man off.”
Nellie Ardell accepted the amount without further words.
”Now,” she said, as she paid the man, ”I am going to move.”
”Move! What for?”
”I can get better rooms for less money just across the way.”
The burly man's face fell. He was Alexander Sloc.u.m's agent, and he knew that to get tenants for the rooms Nellie Ardell occupied would be difficult.
”It ain't right to move now--in the middle of the summer.”
”You intended to put me out--if I couldn't pay the rent.”
”That is different.”
”I have paid up promptly for many months. Mr. Sloc.u.m could have been a bit easier for once.”
”He is more than mean,” put in Jerry. ”I would advise you to move by all means.”
”You seem to know a great deal about him,” sneered the agent.
”I do--and I'll know more some day.”
The agent began to growl, but, seeing he could do nothing, he went off to inform Alexander Sloc.u.m that Nellie Ardell intended to move.
CHAPTER x.x.xII.
A CRAZY MAN'S DOINGS.
”You are more than kind to me, Jerry Upton,” exclaimed Nellie Ardell, when they and her little brother were left alone.
”I didn't want to see you thrown out of your home,” said Jerry, soberly.
”I shall pay you back that money as soon as I possibly can,” she went on.
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