Maybe my son would lend me the money to pay you a
small salary. He says I oughtn't to go out alone."

"A small salary doesn't interest me," said Evan boldly. "Fifty dollars
a week is my figure."

Simeon Deaves gasped. "You're crazy. It's a fortune. At your age I
wasn't making a third of that!"

"Very likely. But times have changed."

The old man now opened the door for Evan. As he did so there was a
scuttle in the passage and a figure whisked out of sight. "Snoopers!"
thought Evan.

"Will you show me the way up-stairs?" he said. "I don't care to use
the servants' entrance."

"Sure, that's right," said Deaves soothingly. "I hope we won't meet
Maud. Always picking on me."

As they headed for the stairs he said cajolingly: "Fifteen dollars a
week; that's plenty to live on. Youngsters ought to live simply. It's
good for their health."

"But how about putting something by?" said Evan slyly.

"Well, I think my son might go as high as seventeen-fifty if I asked
him. Because you're a good boy and a strong boy."

"Thanks. Nothing doing."

As Evan resolutely mounted the stairs, the old man hobbling after said:
"Well, I'll add two and a half to that myself. But that's my last
word! Not another cent!"

"Nothing doing," said Evan again.

At the head of the stairs Deaves said nervously: "Better let me take a
look to see if Maud's around." He peeped out. "All right, the coast
is clear."

They were now in a square entrance hall of goodly size, very showily
finished like a hotel with veneered panels, which already showed signs
of wear. Imitation antique chairs stood about, and in front of the
fireplace, which was certainly never intended to contain a fire, was
spread a somewhat moth-eaten polar bear skin. Still it was grand after
a fashion, and the old man in his hand-me-downs looked oddly out of
place.

"Better think it over!" he said. "Twenty dollars a week! It's a
splendid salary!"

"Nothing doing," said Evan, grinning. In a way he liked the old
scoundrel.

Deaves affected to lose his temper. "Oh, you're too big for your
shoes!" he cried. "Your demands are preposterous!"

Evan continued calmly to make his way towards the front door.

Just before they reached it the old man made one last appeal. "Twenty
dollars!" he said plaintively.

A door at the back of the hall opened and an old-young man came out;
that is to say he was young in years, but he seemed to bear the weight
of an e