Bargain Day at Tutt House by George Randolph Chester
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no, just the mere house . that_will_be enough," answered the other with a smile . he_was on_the point of offering a hundred dollars, when he_saw the little wrinkles about Mr Tutt's eyes, and he_said seventy-five .

"Sho, ye're jokin' ! " retorted uncle Billy . he had_been considered a fine horse- trader in_that part of_the country ." make it a hundred and twenty-five, an' I'll go ye ."

Mr Ellsworth counted out some bills .

" here's a hundred," he_said ." that ought_to_be about right ."

"Fifteen more," insisted uncle Billy .

with a little frown of impatience the other counted off the extra money and handed it over . uncle Billy gravely handed it back .

" them's the fifteen dollars Mr Kamp give_me," he explained ." you've got the hull house fer a week, an' o' course all th' money that's tooken in is your'n . you kin do as ye please about rentin' out rooms to other folks, I reckon .a bargain's a bargain, an' I allus stick to one I make ."

V

Ralph Ellsworth stalked among_the trees, feverishly searching for squirrels, scarlet leaves, and_the glint of a brown walking- dress, this last not being so easy to locate in sunlit autumn woods . time after time he quickened his pace, only to_find that he had_been fooled by a patch of dogwood, a clump of haw bushes or even a leaf- strewn knoll, but at last he unmistakably saw the dress, and then he slowed down to a careless saunter .

she was reaching up for some brilliantly colored maple leaves, and was entirely unconscious of_his presence, especially after she had seen him . her pose showed her pretty figure to advantage, but, of_course, she did_not know that . how should she ?

Ralph admired the picture very_much . the hat, the hair, the gown, the dainty shoes, even the narrow strip of silken hose that was revealed as she stood a-uptoe, were all of a deep, rich brown that proved an exquisite foil for_the pink and cream of her cheeks . he remembered that her eyes were almost the same shade, and wondered how it was_that women- folk happened on combinations in dress that so_well set off their natural charms . the fool !

he_was about three trees away, now, and a panic akin to_that which hunters describe as " buck ague" seized him . he decided that he really had no excuse for coming any nearer . it would_not do, either, to_be seen staring at her if she should happen to_turn her head, so he veered off, intending to regain the road . it would_be impossible to do_this without passing directly in her range of vision, and he_did_not intend to_try to avoid it . he had a fine, manly figure of_his own .

he had just passed the nearest radius to her circle and was proceeding along the tangent that he had laid out for himself, when_the unwitting maid looked carefully down and saw a tangle of roots at her very feet . she was so unfortunate, a second later, as_to slip her foot in_this very tangle and give her ankle ever so slight a twist .

"Oh ! " cried miss Van Kamp, and Ralph Ellsworth flew to_the rescue . he had_not_been noticing her at all, and yet he had started to her side before she had even cried out, which_was strange . she had a very attractive voice .

" may I be of assistance ? " he anxiously inquired .

" i_think not, thank_you," she replied, compressing her lips to_keep back the intolerable pain, and half-closing her eyes to show the fine lashes .Declining the proffered help, she extricated her foot, picked up her autumn branches, and turned away . she was intensely averse to anything that could_be construed as a flirtation, even of_the mildest, he_could certainly see that . she took a step, swayed slightly, dropped the leaves, and clutched out her hand to him .

" it_is nothing," she assured him in a moment, withdrawing the hand after he had held it quite long enough ." nothing whatever . I_gave my foot a slight wrench, and turned the least bit faint for a moment ."

" you_must permit me to walk back, at_least to_the road, with_you," he insisted, gathering up her armload of branches ."I couldn't think of leaving you here alone ."

as he stooped to raise the gay woodland treasures he smiled to himself, ever so slightly . this_was not his first season out, either .

" delightful spot, isn't it ? " he observed as_they regained the road and sauntered in_the direction of_the Tutt house .

" quite so," she reservedly answered . she had noticed that smile as he stooped . he_must_be snubbed a little . it would_be so good for him .

" you don't happen to_know Billy Evans, of Boston, do_you ? " he asked .

" i_think not . I_am but very little acquainted in Boston ."

" too bad," he went on ." i_was rather in hopes you_knew Billy . all sorts of a splendid fellow, and knows everybody ."

" not quite, it seems," she reminded him, and he winced at_the error . in_spite of_the sly smile that he had permitted to himself, he_was unusually interested .

he tried the weather, the flood, the accident, golf, books and three good, substantial, warranted jokes, but the conversation lagged in_spite of him . miss Van Kamp would_not for_the world have it understood that_this unconventional meeting, made allowable by her wrenched ankle, could possibly fulfill the functions of a formal introduction .

" what aripping, queer old building that_is ! " he exclaimed, making one more brave effort as_they came in sight of_the hotel .

" it_is, rather," she assented ." the rooms in_it are as quaint and delightful as_the exterior, too ."

she looked as harmless and innocent as a basket of peaches as she said it, and never the suspicion of a smile deepened the dimple in_the cheek toward him . the smile was glowing cheerfully away inside, though . he_could feel it, if he could_not_see it, and he laughed aloud .

" your crowd rather got the better of us there," he admitted with_the keen appreciation of one still quite close to college days .

" of_course, the mater is furious, but I rather look on_it as a lark ."

she thawed like an April icicle .

" it's perfectly jolly," she laughed with_him ." awfully selfish of us, too, I_know, but such loads of fun ."

they were close to_the Tutt house now, and her limp, that had entirely disappeared as_they emerged from_the woods, now became quite perceptible . there_might_be people looking out_of_the windows, though it_is hard to_see why that should affect a limp .

Ralph was delighted to_find that a thaw had set in, and he_made one more attempt to establish at_least a proxy acquaintance .

" you don't happen to_know Peyson Kingsley, of Philadelphia, do_you ? "

"I'm afraid I don't," she replied ." I_know so few Philadelphia people, you_see ." she was rather regretful about_it this_time . he really was a clever sort of a fellow, in_spite of_that smile .

the center window in_the second floor of_the Tutt house swung open, its little squares of glass flashing jubilantly in_the sunlight .Mrs Ellsworth leaned out over the sill, from_the quaint old sitting- room of_the Van Kamp apartments !

"Oh, Ralph ! " she called in her most dulcet tones ." kindly excuse yourself and come right on up_to our suite for a few_moments ! "

VI

it_is_not nearly so easy to_take a practical joke as_to perpetrate one .Evelyn was sitting thoughtfully on_the porch when her father and mother returned .Mrs Ellsworth was sitting at_the center window above, placidly looking out . her eyes swept carelessly over the Van Kamps, and unconcernedly passed on to_the rest of_the landscape .

Mrs Van Kamp gasped and clutched the arm of her husband . there_was no need . he, too, had seen the apparition .Evelyn now, for_the first time, saw the real humor of_the situation . she smiled as she thought of Ralph . she owed him one, but she never worried about her debts . she always managed to_get them paid, principal and interest .

Mr Van Kamp suddenly glowered and strode into_the Tutt house . uncle Billy met him at_the door, reflectively chewing a straw, and handed him an envelope .Mr Van Kamp tore it open and drew out a note . three five- dollar bills came out with it and fluttered to_the porch floor . this missive confronted him:

MR .J . Belmont VAN KAMP,

dear_Sir: this_is to notify you that I_have rented the entire Tutt house for_the ensuing week, and am compelled to assume possession of_the three second- floor front rooms . herewith I_am enclosing the fifteen dollars you paid to secure the suite . you_are quite welcome to_make use, as my guest, of_the small room over the kitchen . you_will_find your luggage in_that room .Regretting any inconvenience that_this transaction may cause you, I_am,

yours respectfully, Edward Eastman Ellsworth .

Mr Van Kamp passed the note to_his wife and sat down or a large chair . he_was glad that_the chair was comfortable and roomy .Evelyn picked up the bills and tucked them into her waist . she never overlooked any of her perquisites .Mrs Van Kamp read the note, and_the tip of her nose became white . she also sat down, but she was_the first to_find her voice .

" atrocious ! " she exclaimed ." atrocious ! simply atrocious, Belmont . this_is a house of public entertainment . they_can't turn us out in_this high- minded manner ! Isn't there a law or something to_that effect ? "

" it wouldn't matter if there_was," he thoughtfully replied ." this fellow Ellsworth would_be too clever to_be caught by_it . he_would say that_the house was not a hotel but a private residence during the period for_which he has rented it ."

personally, he rather admired Ellsworth . seemed to_be a resourceful sort of chap who knew how to_make money behave itself, and do its little tricks without balking in_the harness .

" then you_can_make him take down the sign ! " his wife declared .

he shook his head decidedly .

" it wouldn't do, Belle," he replied ." it would_be spite, not retaliation, and not at all sportsmanlike . the course you suggest would belittle us more than it would annoy them . there_must_be some other way ."

he went in to_talk with uncle Billy .

" i_want to_buy this place," he stated ." is_it for sale ? "

" it sartin is ! " replied uncle Billy . he_did_not merely twinkle this_time . he grinned .

" how_much ? "

" three thousand dollars ." Mr Tutt was used to charging by_this_time, and he betrayed no hesitation .

"I'll write you out a check at once," and Mr Van Kamp reached in_his pocket with_the reflection that_the spot, after all, was an ideal one for a quiet summer retreat .

" air you a-goin' t' scribble that there three thou-san' on a piece o' paper ? " inquired uncle Billy, sitting bolt upright ."Ef you air a-figgerin' on_that, Mr Kamp, jis' you save yore time . I_give a man four dollars fer one o' them check things oncet, an' I owe myself them four dollars yit ."

Mr Van Kamp retired in disorder, but the thought of_his wife and daughter waiting confidently on_the porch stopped him . moreover, the thing had resolved itself rather into a contest between Ellsworth and himself, and he had done a little making and breaking of men and things in_his own time . he_did some gatling- gun thinking out by_the newel- post, and presently rejoined uncle Billy .

" Mr Tutt, tell me just exactly what Mr Ellsworth rented, please," he requested .

"Th' hull house," replied Billy, and then he somewhat sternly added: " paid me spot cash fer it, too ."

Mr Van Kamp took a wad of loose bills from_his trousers pocket, straightened them out leisurely, and placed them in_his bill book, along with some smooth yellowbacks of eye-bulging denominations . uncle Billy sat up and stopped twiddling his thumbs .

" nothing was said about_the furniture, was there ? " suavely inquired Van Kamp .

uncle Billy leaned blankly back in_his chair . little by little the light dawned on_the ex- horse- trader . the crow's feet reappeared about his eyes, his mouth twitched, he smiled, he grinned, then he slapped his thigh and haw-hawed .

" no ! " roared uncle Billy ." no, there wasn't, by gum ! "

" nothing but the house ? "

" his very own words ! " chuckled uncle Billy ."'Jis' th' mere house,' says he, an' he gits it .a bargain's a bargain, an' I allus stick to one I make ."

" how_much for_the furniture for_the week ? "

"Fifty dollars ! " Mr Tutt knew how to_do business with_this kind of people now, you bet .

Mr Van Kamp promptly counted out the money .

"Drat it ! " commented uncle Billy to himself ." I_could 'a' got more ! "

" now where can we_make ourselves comfortable with_this furniture ? "

uncle Billy chirked up . all was not yet lost .

"Waal," he reflectively drawled, " there's th' new barn . it hain't been used for nothin' yit, senct I built it two years_ago .I jis' hadn't th' heart t' put th' critters in_it as long as th' ole one stood up ."

the other smiled at_this flashlight on uncle Billy's character, and_they went out to look at_the barn .

VII

uncle Billy came back from_the "Tutt house annex," as Mr Van Kamp dubbed the barn, with enough more money to_make him love all the world until he got used to having it . uncle Billy belongs to a large family .

Mr Van Kamp joined the women on_the porch, and explained the attractively novel situation to_them . they were chatting gaily when_the Ellsworths came down the stairs .Mr Ellsworth paused for a moment to exchange a word with uncle Billy .

" Mr Tutt," said he, laughing, " if_we go for a bit of exercise will_you guarantee us the possession of_our rooms when we come back ? "

" yes sir-ree ! " uncle Billy assured him ." they shan't nobody take them rooms away from_you fer money, marbles, ner chalk .a bargain's a bargain, an' I allus stick to one I make," and he virtuously took a chew of tobacco while he inspected the afternoon sky with a clear conscience .

" i_want to_get some_of_those splendid autumn leaves to decorate our cozy apartments," Mrs Ellsworth told her husband as_they passed in hearing of_the Van Kamps ." do_you_know those oldtime rag rugs are the most oddly decorative effects that I_have ever seen . they_are so rich in color and so exquisitely blended ."

there were reasons why this poisoned arrow failed to rankle, but the Van Kamps did_not trouble to explain . they were waiting for Ralph to_come out and join his parents .Ralph, it seemed, however, had decided not to_take a walk . he had already fatigued himself, he had explained, and_his mother had favored him with a significant look . she_could readily believe him, she had assured him, and had then left him in scorn .

the Van Kamps went out to consider the arrangement of_the barn .Evelyn returned first and came out on_the porch to_find a handkerchief . it_was not there, but Ralph was . she was very_much surprised to_see him, and she intimated as_much .

" it's dreadfully damp in_the woods," he explained ." by_the_way, you don't happen to_know the Whitleys, of Washington, do_you ?

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