t out?"

"Wasn't it lucky he did?" asked Mary Rose, standing before him and
rocking on her heels and toes as she often did when she was pleased.
"I might never have come in, if he hadn't. If there's anything I can
do for you, Mr. Wells, any time, don't you hesitate to ask me. Just
send the Japanese gentleman right down. I live in the cellar, I mean
the basement, with Aunt Kate and Uncle Larry and we'll all be only too
glad to do anything to help you get well. It's horrid to be sick. You
look better, I think," critically, and indeed he was not at all pale
how. He had so much color in his face that he was almost purple. "I
must go now and get Jenny Lind. I left her with Mrs. Rawson. I expect
she thought I was crazy," with a giggle as she remembered Mrs. Rawson's
amazed face.

"I'll bet she did!" Mr. Wells stared after her as if he, too, thought
Mary Rose was crazy. She turned in the doorway to wave her hand to him
and he watched her out of sight. Then he looked at the goldfish. He
had half a mind to tell Sako to throw them out. What did he want with
a couple of damned goldfish? The child was a nuisance, an unmitigated
nuisance. Children always were. That was why he lived in the
Washington where they were forbidden. He would have to ask the agents
what they meant by letting the place be overrun with children when
there was a clause in every lease forbidding it. Mary Rose might be a
friendly little soul, she might mean well, but she was an unmitigated
nuisance. The Lord only knew what she would do next if she remained in
the building. And she had dared to talk back to him in front of
people. No, he would see that the lease was lived up to. It was his
right. If he demanded protection against Mary Rose, an impudent
interfering chit, he fumed, the agents would have to protect him.

"Sako!" he called sharply. "Take these damned goldfish down to the
Donovans. And tell Donovan to keep his niece at home. I won't have
her here!"

CHAPTER XIV

Through Bob Strahan, Jimmie obtained a paper route. Mr. Jerry's Aunt
Mary insisted that was work enough for him at present.

"A growing boy has to have plenty of time to eat and sleep," she said,
"and no one is using that attic bedroom."

"You can earn your board taking care of the lawn and lending a hand
with the car. The paper route 'll stand you in for clothes and
spending money," suggested Mr. Jerry. "Might as well take it easy
while you can."