ps you expect your meals will be brought up to you?" said Mr.
Tucker, with a sneer.

"I haven't thought about it particularly," said Philip coolly.

"You may think you're spitin' me by not eatin' anything," observed Mr.
Tucker, who was rather alarmed lest Philip might have made up his mind
to starve himself.

This would be embarrassing, for it would make an investigation
necessary.

"Oh, no," answered Philip, smiling; "that never came into my mind."

"I don't mind bringin' you up your supper for once," said Tucker. "Of
course, I can't do it reg'lar, but this is the first night."

"I suppose I shall be better able to make my escape if I eat," thought
Philip. "Probably the most sensible thing is to accept this offer."

"How much are you to get for my board, Mr. Tucker?" he asked.

"Only sixty cents," grumbled Tucker. "It ain't enough, but the town
won't pay any more. You've no idea what appetites them paupers has."

"You made a mistake when you agreed to take me," said Philip gravely.
"I'm very hearty, you'll be sure to lose money on me."

Mr. Tucker looked uneasy.

"Well, you see I expect to have you earn part of your board by doin'
chores," he said, after a pause.

"That will give me a good chance to run away," remarked Philip calmly.
"You'll have to let me out of this room to work, you know."

"You wouldn't dare to run away!" said Tucker, trying to frighten Philip
by a blustering manner.

"That shows you don't know me, Mr. Tucker!" returned our hero. "I give
you fair warning that I shall run away the first chance I get."

Philip's tone was so calm and free from excitement that Mr. Tucker could
not help seeing that he was in earnest, and he looked perplexed.

"You don't look at it in the right light," he said, condescending to
conciliate his new boarder. "If you don't make no trouble, you'll have
a good time, and I'll let you off, now an' then, to play with Zeke. He
needs a boy to play with."

Philip smiled, for the offer did not attract him very much.

"You are very kind," he said, "but I don't think that even that will
reconcile me to staying here with you. But, if you'll agree to let me
pay you for the supper, you may bring me up some."

"The town will pay me," said Tucker.

"That's just what I don't want the town to do," said Philip quickly. "I
will make you an offer. At sixty cents a week the meals for one day
will not cost over ten cents. I'll pay you ten cents for supper and
breakfast."