It was on Thursday that Bert, finding mail in the box downstairs, tossed a letter across the table to Chick with the remark: “If you’re expecting any freight, Charles, it has arrove.” Chick looked at the corner of the buff envelope, which bore the name of the railroad followed by the legend “Freight Department,” and scowled. Bert busied himself with a letter of his own until an indignant exclamation from the other caught his attention. “What a nerve!” growled Chick. “Wants me to pay him ten dollars right away because he’s ‘got use for the money’! Maybe I haven’t got use for it, too; or would if I had it! Why didn’t he say something about it last night?” “Oh, that’s Devore writing to you, eh?” said Bert. “Well, see here, Chick, can’t you pay what you owe him and then keep away from him for a while? How much is it, anyway? Only ten?” Chick shrugged, hesitated and answered: “No, it’s more than that, counting last night. It’s--it’s sixteen-twenty-five now.” Bert whistled. “How much have you got?” he asked. “About three and a half. And I owe you--” “Never mind what you owe me. I’ve got five--no, about four-fifty. That’ll make eight. Borrow a couple somewhere and get it to him. After all, he’s got a right to it, I suppose.” “You lend me a couple and I’ll pay him five,” said Chick. “That’s enough for him. He knows he’ll get it all when I have it. I wouldn’t be owing him so much if he didn’t always say, ‘Oh, that’s all right. Pay when you get ready!’ I tried to get ten from the old man, but he’s as tight as a bow-string, hang it. Wrote back that I was thirty dollars overdrawn already! Gosh, he keeps track of every sou he lets go of! Next dad I have won’t be a banker, I’ll bet!” “Well, here’s two,” said Bert, “and for goodness’ sake put some more with it and hush him up. And for Pete’s sake, Chick, stop playing pool with him until you get yourself squared. What time did you come wandering in last night, anyway? It seemed like the middle of the night to me.” “Oh, it wasn’t that bad,” said Chick. “Thanks for this, Bert. That makes six fifty, doesn’t it? You’ll have to remember because I’m likely to forget. I’ll slip over to Mooney’s after dinner and leave it for him.” “Doesn’t he have any home?” inquired Bert. “Doesn’t sleep at Mooney’s, too, does he?” “He says leave it at Mooney’s,” answered Chick, “so that’s what I’ll do. I hope he chokes!” “Well,” murmured Bert, “I won’t go that far, but hanged if I’d loosen the knot if he was choking!” CHAPTER XVI PEANUTS AND CONVERSATION