Part 61 (2/2)

”What an outrageous rent!” said that lady.

”Yes--New York rents _are_ rather inconsiderate,” Miss Podder admitted.

”But see, here's a guaranteed income if the girls stay--and I'm sure they will; and if the cooking's good you could easily get table boarders besides.”

Mrs. Joyce hopped to the bureau and brought out a hard, sharp-pointed pencil, and a lined writing tablet.

”Let's figger it out,” said she. ”You say that house rents furnished at $3,200. It would take a cook and a chambermaid!”

”And a furnace man,” said Miss Podder. ”They come to about fifty a year. The cook would be thirty a month, the maid twenty-five, if you got first-cla.s.s help, and you'd need it.”

”That amounts to $710 altogether,” stated Mrs. Joyce.

”Fuel and light and such things would be $200,” Miss Podder estimated, ”and I think you ought to allow $200 more for breakage and extras generally.”

”That's $4,310 already,” said Mrs. Joyce.

Then there's the food,” Miss Podder went on. ”How much do you think it would cost to feed twenty girls, two meals a day, and three Sundays?”

”And three more,” Mrs. Joyce added, ”with me, and the help, twenty-three. I could do it for $2.00 a week apiece.”

”Oh!” said Miss Podder. ”_Could_ you? At New York prices?”

”See me do it!” said Mrs. Joyce.

”That makes a total expense of $6,710 a year. Now, what's the income, ma'am?”

The income was clear--if they could get it. Ten girls at $6.00 and ten at $7.00 made $130.00 a week--$6,700.00 a year.

”There you are!” said Mrs. Joyce triumphantly. ”And the 'mealers'--if my griddle-cakes don't fetch 'em I'm mistaken! If I have ten--at $5.00 a week and clear $3.00 off 'em--that'll be another bit--$1,560.00 more.

Total income $8,320.00. More'n one thousand clear! Maybe I can feed 'em a little higher--or charge less!”

The two women worked together for an hour or so; Mrs. Ames drawn in later with demands as to b.u.t.ter, eggs, and ”eatin' chickens.”

”There's an ice-box as big as a closet,” said Miss Podder.

Mrs. Joyce smiled triumphantly. ”Good!” she said. ”I can buy my critters of Judson here and have him freight 'em down. I can get apples here and potatoes, and lots of stuff.”

”You'll need, probably, a little capital to start with,” suggested Miss Podder. ”I think the a.s.sociation could--”

”It don't have to, thank you just the same,” said Mrs. Joyce. ”I've got enough in my stocking to take me to New York and get some fuel.

Besides, all my boarders is goin' to pay in advance--that's the one sure way. The mealers can buy tickets!”

Her eyes danced. She fairly coursed about the room on her nimble crutches.

”My!” she said, ”it will seem good to have my girl to feed again.”

<script>