"I don't have to play," protested Carl with great earnestness. "Anyhow I get heaps of exercise and fresh air doing errands. Besides, we live up five flights." His listener turned aside his head. "If it comes to exercise I get all I want right at home," persisted the boy. "I've a crew of little brothers and sisters, too, and when I'm not busy I help take care of them so Ma can sew. Just you try doing it once if you are looking for exercise. And then I wheel the baby out." There was a twinkle in the eye of the man at the desk but he said gravely: "Isn't it going to bother them at home if you take a position? How does your mother feel about it?" "I haven't had a chance to ask her," Carl blurted out with honesty. "All last evening she was rushing to finish that spangled thing; and this morning she had the kids to dress and I had errands to do. It's awful hard to get a chance to talk to Ma by herself. Some of the children are always clawing at her skirts and bothering her." "You do believe, though, in talking things over with your mother." "Sure! We always tell Ma everything if we can get a chance. So does all Mulberry Court, for that matter. Ma's that sort." The stranger toyed with an ivory letter-opener thoughtfully. "Now I'll tell you what we'll do," began he at last. "To-day is Saturday, isn't it?" Carl nodded. "Well, if your friends, the Harlings, are not straightened out by Monday morning I will let you begin a week from to-day as errand boy in this office." "Bully!" cried the delighted applicant. "If, on the other hand," continued the gentleman at the desk, speaking slowly and evenly, and not heeding the interruption, "Miss Harling finds work and the family do not need your aid, you must agree to put in your free time at home helping your mother as you have been doing in the past. Is that a bargain?" "Y-e-s." "What's the matter?" "It just seems to me we might as well settle it definitely now that I am to come here next week. To-day is Saturday and I don't believe Louise will find work before Monday morning. Of course she can't do anything about getting a job Sunday." Although there was a perceptible tremor of disappointment in the boy's voice the stranger appeared not to notice it. Rising, he put out his hand with a kindly smile. "I am afraid the agreement I have made with you is the best I can do at present," said he. "I will be true to my part of it if you will be true to yours. I promise you that if the Harlings' affairs do not take an upward turn by Monday you shall come to their rescue." "Thank you, sir." "I wouldn't worry any more about this, if I were you, sonny," concluded the man. "Go home and try to be satisfied. I'll keep the place for you, remember. It is Carl McGregor, isn't it, of----" "Mulberry Court--the top flat." "And did you tell me these friends of yours, the Harlings, lived there too?"