The other boys followed with equal contributions, Bud generously donating a five-dollar bill he had received that day for a solo at a musicale given by Miss Lyte. "Here's fifty cents from me," said the Boarder, who had remained very thoughtful during this transaction. "Eleven dollars and forty-seven cents for Co," announced Amarilly. The little girl's eyes shone through her tears. "Seems too bad that Iry is the only one left out," said Mrs. Jenkins. "When he gits old enough to work, he can come in," said Milt. "Add her up, Amarilly." "Three hundred and sixty-nine dollars and sixty-seven cents!" almost screamed Amarilly. "Gee!" chorused the boys. "Purty near buy the old shack," said Flamingus. "Our landlord," said Amarilly sagaciously, "is a shark, and he'll try to get the best of us. I am going to get Mr. Vedder to do the business for us, and he'll get the deed in all our names." "Put in Iry's too," pleaded Mrs. Jenkins solicitous for her Benjamin. "I'll put it to vote," said parliamentary Amarilly. "Who's for Iry?" "Me, me, me," came from all, though Milt's response was reluctant. "I will see Mr. Vedder to-morrow, so we can begin to let the rent apply right off," said Amarilly. "We'll take more pride in keeping it fixed up now," remarked Flamingus. "I'll mend the windowpanes and the door hinges." "And I'll build some stairs and put up a partition or two," promised the Boarder. "I'll paint it," said Gus, proud of his former work in this direction. Amarilly secretly resolved to select the color. "I'll make curtains and rag rugs and sofa pillows," she observed. "And I'll buy some cheers and a hangin' lamp," said Mrs. Jenkins. "Don't all this talk make you want to housekeep?" she asked with a knowing glance in the Boarder's direction. He shook his head thoughtfully, but when the boys and Cory had gone to bed, he unfolded a proposition that he had been evolving during their financial discussion, and which now found overwhelming favor and enthusiasm with his hearers. The next day Amarilly called upon Mr. Vedder at the theatre. "He's got more sound business to him than Mr. Derry or Mr. St. John," she shrewdly decided. "When she told him her plan and showed him her figures, he most heartily approved. "The house, of course, isn't worth anything," he said, "but land down that way is a good investment. Who is your, landlord?" She gave him the name and address. "I am glad you came to me, Amarilly, instead of to your newer friends." "Oh, you know more about it than they do," she replied, "and besides, some way I wouldn't feel as if I were bothering you." "Not a bit of bother, Amarilly, and I hope you will always feel that way."