``I can't, either! Not unless you give me three dollars and twenty-four cents, or unless I can get back to the lumber-yard and earn the rest before--''
``No!'' And the warm color that had rushed over Mrs.Baxter during Jane's sensational recital returned with a vengeance.Her eyes flashed.``If you'd rather I sent a policeman for those baskets, I'll send one.I should prefer to do it--much! And to have that rascal arrested.
If you don't want me to send a policeman you can go for them yourself, but you must start within ten minutes, because if you don't I'll telephone headquarters.Ten minutes, Willie, and I mean it!''
He cried out, protesting.She would make him a thing of scorn forever and soil his honor, if she sent a policeman.Mr.Beljus was a fair and honest tradesman, he explained, passionately, and had not made the approaches in this matter.
Also, the garments in question, though not entirely new, nor of the highest mode, were of good material and in splendid condition.Unmistakably they were evening clothes, and such a bargain at fourteen dollars that William would guarantee to sell them for twenty after he had worn them this one evening.Mr.Beljus himself had said that he would not even think of letting them go at fourteen to anybody else, and as for the two poor baskets of worn and useless articles offered in exchange, and a bent scarf-
pin and a worn-out old silver watch that had belonged to great-uncle Ben--why, the ten dollars and forty cents allowed upon them was beyond all ordinary liberality; it was almost charity.There was only one place in town where evening clothes were rented, and the suspicious persons in charge had insisted that William obtain from his father a guarantee to insure the return of the garments in perfect condition.So that was hopeless.And wasn't it better, also, to wear clothes which had known only one previous occupant (as was the case with Mr.Beljus's offering) than to hire what chance hundreds had hired? Finally, there was only one thing to be considered and this was the fact that William HAD to have those clothes!
``Six minutes,'' said Mrs.Baxter, glancing implacably at her watch.``When it's ten I'll telephone.''
And the end of it was, of course, victory for the woman--victory both moral and physical.
Three-quarters of an hour later she was unburdening the contents of the two baskets and putting the things back in place, illuminating these actions with an expression of strong distaste--in spite of broken assurances that Mr.
Beljus had not more than touched any of the articles offered to him for valuation.
...At dinner, which was unusually early that evening, Mrs.Baxter did not often glance toward her son; she kept her eyes from that white face and spent most of her time in urging upon Mr.
Baxter that he should be prompt in dressing for a card-club meeting which he and she were to attend that evening.These admonitions of hers were continued so pressingly that Mr.Baxter, after protesting that there was no use in being a whole hour too early, groaningly went to dress without even reading his paper.
William had retired to his own room, where he lay upon his bed in the darkness.He heard the evening noises of the house faintly through the closed door: voices and the clatter of metal and china from the far-away kitchen, Jane's laugh in the hall, the opening and closing of the doors.
Then his father seemed to be in distress about something.William heard him complaining to Mrs.Baxter, and though the words were indistinct, the tone was vigorously plaintive.Mrs.
Baxter laughed and appeared to make light of his troubles, whatever they were--and presently their footsteps were audible from the stairway;
the front door closed emphatically, and they were gone.
