y-and-basement row of such
houses, which Inez announced to be "Mother Beasley's."

"Sometimes she's got her beds all full and you hafter wait for lodgin's.
Mebbe she'll let you camp in her room, or in one of the halls up-stairs."

"Oh, but, my dear, we don't wish to stay!" Nan said. "Only to eat here
and inquire about those other girls."

"Where' ye goin' to stop?" asked Inez, curiously.

"We have friends out by Washington Park," Bess said. "They'd have met us,
only there was some mistake in the arrival of our train."

"Hi! Washington Park?" exclaimed the flower-seller. "Say, you must be
big-bugs."

Nan laughed. "I guess _they_ are," she said.

"Youse won't be suited with Mother Beasley's grub," said the girl,
hesitating at the basement steps.

"I believe she's right," Bess said faintly, as the odor of cooking
suddenly burst forth with the opening of the door under the long flight
leading to the front door of the house.

"I've eaten in a lumber camp," said Nan, stoutly. "I'm sure this can't
be as hard."

CHAPTER XV

CONTRASTS

A girl not much bigger than Inez, nor dressed much better, came out
of the basement door of Mother Beasley's, wiping her lips on the back
of her hand.

"Hullo, Ine!" she said to the flower-seller. "Who you got in tow? Some
more greenies."

"Never you mind, Polly," returned Inez. "They're just friends of mine--on
their way to Washington Park."

"Yes--they--be!" drawled the girl called Polly.

"Hi! that's all right," chuckled Inez. "I t'ought I'd make ye sit up and
take notice. But say! wot's good on the menu ter-day?"

"Oh, say! take me tip," said Polly. "Order two platters of Irish stew an'
a plate o' ham an' eggs. Youse'll have a bully feed then. Eggs is cheap
an' Mother Beasley's givin' t'ree fer fifteen cents, wid the ham throwed
in. That'll give youse each an egg an' plenty of stew in the two platters
for all t'ree."

This arrangement of a course dinner on so economical a plan made Bess
open her eyes, while Nan was greatly amused.

"How strong's the bank?" asked Inez of Nan, whom she considered the
leader of the expedition. "Can we stand fifteen cents apiece?"

"I think so," returned the girl from Tillbury, gravely.

"Good as gold, then!" their pilot said. "We'll go to it. By-by, Polly!"

She marched into the basement. Bess would never have dared proceed that
far had it not been for Nan's presence.

A woman with straggling gray hair met them at the door of