difficult.

"It ain't right to move now--in the middle of the summer."

"You intended to put me out--if I couldn't pay the rent."

"That is different."

"I have paid up promptly for many months. Mr. Slocum could have been a bit
easier for once."

"He is more than mean," put in Jerry. "I would advise you to move by all
means."

"You seem to know a great deal about him," sneered the agent.

"I do--and I'll know more some day."

The agent began to growl, but, seeing he could do nothing, he went off to
inform Alexander Slocum that Nellie Ardell intended to move.

CHAPTER XXXII.

A CRAZY MAN'S DOINGS.

"You are more than kind to me, Jerry Upton," exclaimed Nellie Ardell, when
they and her little brother were left alone.

"I didn't want to see you thrown out of your home," said Jerry, soberly.

"I shall pay you back that money as soon as I possibly can," she went on.
"I expect to get about twenty dollars for sewing next week. One of the
ladies I work for is out of town, but is coming back on Wednesday."

"All right--take your time. When will you move? Maybe I can help carry
some things for you."

"I've a good mind to move this afternoon. Those other rooms are all
ready."

"Then do it, and I'll pitch right in," and in fun the young oarsman picked
up several chairs.

"I will. Will you be kind enough to stay with Tommy a few minutes?"

"Certainly."

Nellie Ardell went off at once, and was back in ten minutes. When she
returned she had rented three small rooms for less money than she now
paid.

She had not many articles of furniture and it did not seem the least bit
like working to our hero to assist her in transferring them across the
way. The two worked together, and as they labored they talked, Jerry
telling her a good deal about his mission to New York and the girl
relating her own experiences in keeping the wolf from the door.

"We were not always poor," said Nellie Ardell. "When father was alive we
lived in our own home in Brooklyn. But he grew interested in a Western
land scheme and it took all of his money."

"That was our trouble. I came to New York to see what I could do toward
making Alexander Slocum give an accounting of the money he put in a
California land scheme for my uncle."

"Why, my father was in Slocum's land scheme!" she ejaculated.

"Perhaps it was the same. This land scheme I speak of was called the Judge
Martin--why, I don't know."

"It is the same. It was so call