Part 10 (2/2)

”Since you've asked, sir,” says Nivens, ”why, I might, sir.”

Ham Adams lets out a gasp.

”You!” says he.

”It's this way, sir,” says Nivens, in that quiet, offhand style of his.

”I'd always been in the habit of putting by most of my wages, not needing them to live on. There's tips, you know, sir, and quite a little one can pick up--commissions from the stores, selling second-hand clothes and shoes, and so on. So when Cousin Mabel had this chance to buy out the Madame Ritz Beauty Parlors, where she'd been forelady for so long, I could furnish half the capital and go in as a silent partner.”

”Wha-a-at?” says Ham, his eyes bugged. ”You own a half interest in a beauty shop--in Madame Ritz's?”

Nivens bows.

”That is strictly between ourselves, sir,” says he. ”I wouldn't like it generally known. But it's been quite a success--twelve attendants, sir, all busy from eleven in the morning until ten at night. Mostly limousine trade now, for we've doubled our prices within the last two years. You'll see our ads in all the theater programs and Sunday papers. That's what brings in the--”

”But see here,” breaks in Ham, ”how the merry dingbats would you use me in a beauty parlor? I'm just curious.”

Nivens pulls that flickery smile of his again.

”That wasn't exactly what I had in mind, sir,” says he. ”In fact, I have nothing to do with the active management of Madame Ritz's; only drop around once or twice a month to go over the books with Mabel.

It's wonderful how profits pile up, sir. Nearly ten thousand apiece last year. So I've been thinking I ought to give up work. It was only that I didn't quite know what to do with myself after. I've settled that now, though; at least, Mabel has. 'You ought to take your place in society,' she says, 'and get married.' The difficulty was, sir, to decide just what place I ought to take. And then--well, it's an ill wind, as they say, that blows n.o.body luck. Besides, if you'll pardon me, sir, you seemed to be losing your hold on yours.”

”On--on mine?” asks Ham, his mouth open.

Nivens nods.

”I'm rather familiar with it, you see,” says he. ”Of course, I may not fill it just as you did, but that would hardly be expected. I can try.

That is why I have been staying on. I've taken over the lease. The agent has stopped bothering you, perhaps you have noticed. And I've made out a complete inventory of the furnis.h.i.+ngs. In case I take them over, I'll pay you a fair price--ten per cent. more than any dealer.”

”Do--do you mean to say,” demands Adams, ”that you are paying my rent?”

”Excuse me, mine,” says Nivens. ”The lease has stood in my name for the last two months. I didn't care to hurry you, sir; I wanted to give you every chance. But now, if you are quite at the end, I am ready to propose the change.”

”Go on,” says Ham, starin' at him. ”What change?”

”My place for yours,” says Nivens.

”Eh?” gasps Ham.

”That is, of course, if you've nothing better to do, sir,” says Nivens, quiet and soothin'. ”You'd soon pick it up, sir, my tastes being quite similar. For instance--the bath ready at nine; fruit, coffee, toast, and eggs at nine-fifteen, with the morning papers and the mail laid out. Then at--”

”See here, my man,” breaks in Adams, breathin' hard. ”Are you crazy, or am I? Are you seriously suggesting that I become your valet?”

Nivens shrugs his shoulders.

”It occurred to me you'd find that the easiest way of settling your account with me, sir,” says he. ”Then, too, you could stay on here, almost as though nothing had happened. Quite likely I should go out a bit more than you do, sir. Well, here you'd be: your easy chair, your pictures, your favorite brands of cigars and Scotch. Oh, I a.s.sure you, you'll find me quite as gentlemanly about not locking them up as you have been, sir. I should make a few changes, of course; nothing radical, however. And, really, that little back room of mine is very cozy. What would come hardest for you, I suppose, would be the getting up at seven-thirty; but with a good alarm clock, sir, you--”

”Stop!” says Ham. ”This--this is absurd. My head's swimming from it.

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