Page 51 - An Amateur Fireman

CHAPTER VII.

NEW LODGINGS.

Dan was so eager to see the new lodgings that he could not wait with any degree of patience until Seth had
fully satisfied himself regarding certain matters connected with the leasing of them, but insisted on setting out
at once, and his partner felt obliged to accompany him.

Arriving at the address given them by 'Lish Davis, they found affairs exactly as he had stated.

The room which had been offered at such a low rental was in the attic of an old-fashioned, pitch-roof house,
and although it was not such an apartment as could readily have been let to adults, to the boys it appeared as
the acme of comfort and even luxury.

Mrs. Hanson, the mistress of the dwelling, had provided a fairly good bed for the lodgers, and the clothing on
it looked so rest-inviting that Dan declared that it was hard to resist the temptation to "turn in" at once.

There were two chairs, a rude stand on which were a water-pitcher and a basin, a small mirror, and an old
table.

The window boasted of a curtain; but the floor was carpetless, save for two well-worn rugs.

Dan, fearing lest Seth might refuse to hire this very swell apartment because of the suspicion that some of
Ninety-four's men had agreed to pay a certain portion of the rental in order that it might be offered at an
exceedingly low price, promptly announced his willingness to take the room, and when this had been done it
seemed to Master Bartlett as if he was in duty bound to ratify the bargain.

"We'll pay in advance," he said, as he counted out the required amount, thereby reducing his cash account to
an exceedingly small margin.

"There's no need of your doing anything like that," Mrs. Hanson replied kindly. "Mr. Davis says he'll
guarantee that the rent is paid promptly, and that should be enough for me, without taking money before it is
due."

"Mr. Davis is mighty good, but there's no reason why he should back a couple of boys who are able to pay
their own way. The rent is so cheap I was 'fraid he'd been puttin' up money on our account, so's we could
afford to hire it."

"He said you were mighty independent, and I guess he's right; but you needn't be afraid of getting any more
than you pay for. This room couldn't be let to many people, and those who would be willing to live in such a
place we would not want in the house, except in a case like yours, where a friend of ours says everything is as
it should be. Mr. Davis is a very nice man."

"You can jest bet he is," Seth replied emphatically. "He's been mighty good to me."

Then, having counted the money and promised to give a receipt in due form for the same, Mrs. Hanson left
her new lodgers, and Dan cried when they were alone:

"Say, Seth, this kind-er knocks the spots out er Baxter's shed, eh? It ain't costin' me but ten cents a week
more'n the other place did, an' that bed is worth three times them figgers. Talk 'bout fifteen-cent lodgin's!
Why, the best I ever saw wasn't a marker alongside of this!"