Center Rush Rowland

claimed the landlady triumphantly. "Here

ing the bag on his knees more firmly. "You gave me the refusal of

goon, but she silently referred h

?" Ira asked

the refusal of it until evening and she said she would. I agreed to come back in any case and say w

ack, yes, but he didn't know whether he wanted it or didn't want it. And I

m you have. I found the room for rent and took it this afternoon, and paid tw

aren't any rooms left. This is all ther

"Why don't you get a lodging for tonight somewhere and then

ay, this is my room, and I mean to have it. She did give

me a liar to my face, are you? If you don't get right out

ed to emit a large youth who was now regarding them with his hands in his pockets and a broad smile on his face. "You let this chap and me talk it over q

ied the landlady irately, "and that's for him

urbing the others with all this racket. Shove that trun

into his own hands, pushed the small trunk out of the way of the door, its owner grudgingly vacating hi

n and be comfortable. Try the armcha

not very amiably. "Names haven't

honest-to-goodness, Nead, did Mrs. Magoon sa

's the last wor

n't mind telling me, how m

llars and a

That's about three dollars a week, isn't it?"

to pay, and I told her so. She wanted four at first.

n it," said Ira pleasantl

urs! Now you loo

on't shout, I guess. What you agreed to and what Mrs. Magoon agreed to is no business of

en't any

I'm beginning to doubt Mrs. Thingamabob's-er-memory. But I think you left it pretty late to decide, Nead. If I'd been Mrs. Magoon I'd h

to eat and then find a

u see, Nead, if you hadn't wanted it, and she had stood by her bargain until

lawyer! She said I could have the room and I'

out me?" inqui

what you told me to do. If you think

what I will do, Nead. I'll get Mrs. Magoon to fix up some sort of a cot or something and you can stay here until tomorrow. It's pretty lat

you think I have any right to it or not. I know that I ha

all evening?"

re going to

And if you had found anything better you would never have shown up here again. And you know that's so, too. I'm perfectly willing to share the room with you tonight, but I'm not go

looking youth with a poor complexion. His features were not bad, and he had rather nice eyes, but there was something unpleasant about his expression. He wore good clothes, but wore the

giving up my claim on the room. Tomorrow I mean to go to the Principal a

terview Mrs. Magoon. If she hasn't an empty room she can probably find us a

Besides," he added, tossing his hat to the table and stretching himself mo

" replied Ira gravely. "

ently but firmly negated that, pointing out that she had got herself into the fix and that it was nothing to do with him, and finally the landlady agreed to waive remuneration. Ten minutes later, not very enthusiastically aided by

can get a fine study in Leonard Hall for a hundred and twenty-five for the year, and that's only about three dollars a week. They ought to have enough dormitories here and not make fellows live around in dives like this. Gee, some of the prices

m myself,"

But they loo

rth, but hardly second, Nead. Still, they're all r

Nead laughed. "Say, what's the matter w

oberly, "but it's rather old and has rhe

expect me to buy this trash off yo

lly the window seat. I'm sort of fond of tha

ings, all right," he said finally, dipping into his bag for

How ab

ffa

inquired I

iot! There isn't any Buffalo i

all killed now, though. Buffalo

way. And it's the bes

this place,

ha

idn't you?" asked the other innocently. "And th

ess you live in the country, all right." He grinned at the nightgow

's a few raccoon

ll, I'm going to turn in. Hope you'll find t

taking the b

d Nead. "It's m

swer. "If I have the nightmare, just

his watch showed the time to be but a few minutes past six. Ira turned over stiffly and tried to slumber again, but after ten minutes of unsuccessful effort he gave it up, rolled over on his back, put his arms over his

dn't sent him word of his whereabouts. He would write Goodloe a note as soon as he got dressed. As far as he was personally concerned, he was ready to call quits. It was much too wonderful a day for fighting! Then he speculated about Mart Johnston and wondered whether Mart would look him up. He

at room. Ira tried to see the affair from Nead's point of view. It was rather puzzling. He didn't quite know what he ought to do. Of course

es the choice wouldn't fall of Nead, but he couldn't. And maybe Nead would improve on acquaintance. Ira had already discovered that first impressions are frequently erroneous. There was, too, the advantage of having someone share the expense, although Ira wasn't greatly concerned about that. He weighed the question for some ti