"And now we must be going--Benny and I. I'm at the Holland House. With
your permission, then, Mrs. Blaisdell, I'll send up my trunks to-
morrow morning. And now good-night--and thank you."

"Why--but, Mr. Smith!" The woman, too, came to her feet, but her face
was surprised. "Why, you haven't even seen your room yet! How do you
know you'll like it?"

"Eh? What? Oh!" Mr. Smith laughed. There was a quizzical lift to his
eyebrows. "So I haven't, have I? And people usually do, don't they?
Well--er--perhaps I will just take a look at--the room, though I'm not
worrying any, I assure you. I've no doubt it will be quite right,
quite right," he finished, as he followed Mrs. Blaisdell to a door
halfway down the narrow hall.

Five minutes later, once more on the street, he was walking home with
Benny. It was Benny who broke the long silence that had immediately
fallen between them.

"Say, Mr. Smith, I'll bet ye YOU'll never be rich!"

Mr. Smith turned with a visible start.

"Eh? What? I'll never be--What do you mean, boy?"

Benny giggled cheerfully.

"'Cause you paid Aunt Jane what she asked the very first time. Why,
Aunt Jane never expects ter get what she asks, pa says. She sells him
groceries in the store, sometimes, when Uncle Frank's away, ye know.