"And I'll build some stairs and put up a partition or two," promised the
Boarder.

"I'll paint it," said Gus, proud of his former work in this direction.
Amarilly secretly resolved to select the color.

"I'll make curtains and rag rugs and sofa pillows," she observed.

"And I'll buy some cheers and a hangin' lamp," said Mrs. Jenkins. "Don't
all this talk make you want to housekeep?" she asked with a knowing
glance in the Boarder's direction.

He shook his head thoughtfully, but when the boys and Cory had gone to
bed, he unfolded a proposition that he had been evolving during their
financial discussion, and which now found overwhelming favor and
enthusiasm with his hearers.

The next day Amarilly called upon Mr. Vedder at the theatre.

"He's got more sound business to him than Mr. Derry or Mr. St. John,"
she shrewdly decided.

"When she told him her plan and showed him her figures, he most heartily
approved.

"The house, of course, isn't worth anything," he said, "but land down
that way is a good investment. Who is your, landlord?"

She gave him the name and address.