Mrs. Perkins was a neighbor much addicted to borrowing, which was
rather disagreeable, but might have been more easily tolerated but
that she seldom returned the articles lent.

Mrs. Barclay went to the door and opened it, fully expecting to see
her borrowing neighbor. A very different person met her view. The
ragged hat, the ill-looking face, the neglected attire, led her to
recognize the tramp whom Ben had described to her as having attempted
to rob him in the afternoon. Terrified, Mrs. Barclay's first impulse
was to shut the door and bolt it. But her unwelcome visitor was too
quick for her. Thrusting his foot into the doorway, he interposed an
effectual obstacle in the way of shutting the door.

"No, you don't, ma'am!" he said, with as laugh. "I understand your
little game. You want to shut me out."

"What do you want?" asked the widow apprehensively.

"What do I want?" returned the tramp. "Well, to begin with, I want
something to eat--and drink," he added, after a pause.

"Why don't you go to the tavern?" asked Mrs. Barclay, anxious for him
to depart.

"Well, I can't afford it. All the money I've got is a bogus dollar
your rogue of a son gave me this afternoon."

"You stole it from him," said the widow indignantly.