"When my aunt introduced you to me just now she did not--did not
identify me as she should--"

"Really, does it make any difference?"

"Yes, I think it does. You see, I am not only her niece, but her
business woman, her agent, as well. She isn't very good at business, but
still she has a good deal of it to be done. She runs this
boarding-place, and people of various kinds come to her and she takes
them into her house. Many of these people are entirely unknown to her.
In this way trouble sometimes arises. For instance people come now and
then who--how shall I put it?--are very reserved about making their
board-payments. My aunt hardly knows how to deal with them--"

He interrupted her with a gesture and a glance at his watch. "It always
seems to me an unnecessary waste of time not to be direct. You have
called to collect my arrearage for board?"

"Well, yes. I have."

"Please tell your aunt that when I told her to give herself no concern
about that matter, I exactly meant what I said. To-night I received
funds through the mail; the sum, twenty dollars. Your aunt," said he,
obviously ready to return to his reading matter, "shall have it all."

But Sharlee had heard delinquent young men talk like that before, and
her business platform in these cases was to be introduced to their funds
direct.

"That would cut down the account nicely," said she, looking at him