Part 30

So Jasper ran over to the library table, and brought back the tablet and pencil hanging to it; and pretty soon Jim's home was all described thus: "Mrs. James Corcoran, 5 Willow Court--third house from Haven Street."

"It's kinder hard to find," observed Mr. Potter slowly, "because Willow Court runs into Haven Street criss-cross, and this number isn't on the house; it's got rubbed off; but if you follow up No. 3, and come up carefully, why, there you'll be where No. 5 was."

"Oh dear me!" said Mr. King. "Well, you may describe the house, for I am going down there to-morrow, and I certainly do not wish to waste my time walking about."

Polly and Jasper looked so very decidedly "Oh, may we go too?" that the old gentleman added quickly, "And my young people will accompany me," which really left nothing more to be desired at present.

"Well, it's a yellow house," said Mr. Potter, thinking very hard, "that is, it is in spots, where the paint is on; and it's low, and runs down to the back, and sets sideways. But I tell you how you'll know it. She's got--Mrs. Jim Corcoran has--the greatest lot of flowers in her window. They're chock full, sir."

"I shall know it, then," cried Polly in great satisfaction.

"I think there's no danger, sir, but what we will find the place all right." Old Mr. King was fumbling in his pocket in great perplexity. "It never would do," he decided, pulling his hand out. "No, I must contrive to send him something. Well, now--hem--Mr. Potter," he said aloud, "and where do you live? Quite near, I presume?"

"Oh, just the other end of the town, sir," said Mr. Potter. "I live on Acorn Street."

"Acorn Street?" repeated Mr. King, wrinkling his brows, "and where may that be, pray tell?"

"It's over at the South End, sir; it runs off from Baker Street and Highland Square."

"Oh yes, yes," said the old gentleman, without much more idea than before.

"I know where it is, father," said Jasper. "Dear me! You've had to take a good bit of time to get all this information, Mr. Potter."

Mr. Potter looked down busily on the carpet, trying not to think how tired his feet were, saving some car-fare for their owner.

"Well, now what number?" The old gentleman seeming to desire his whole address, that was soon given too,--"23 Acorn Street, South End."

"And I suppose you have a family?" went on the old gentleman, determined to find out all there was to it, now he had commenced.

The little clerk began to hem and to haw, behind his hand. "No, sir, I haven't; that is, yes, I have considerable--I mean my four sisters, sir; we all live together."

"Oh--ah!" replied Mr. King. "Well, now thank you very much, Mr. Potter; and as your time is valuable, and should be paid for,"--he tucked a bill within the nervous hands.

"Oh, I couldn't take it, sir," cried Hiram Potter, greatly distressed.

"But it's your due. Why, man, I shouldn't have asked you to take all this trouble, and spend so much time after I've found you had so far to go." Mr. King was really becoming irate now, so that the little clerk didn't dare to say more. "Bless me! Say no more--say no more!"

The little clerk was too much frightened to think of another word; and finding that the interview was considered closed, he picked up his hat, and in some way, he could never remember how, he soon found himself out of the handsome house, and skipping off nimbly in the fresh air, which quite revived him.

"I could offer him only a trifle," old Mr. King was saying, "only what might repay him for his trouble and time to-night. But I shall speak to Fraser about him to-morrow, Jasper. That agent of mine is, curiously enough, in want of a clerk just at this time, and I know this little man can fit in very well, and it will get him away from that beastly office. Four sisters--oh my goodness! Well, Fraser must give him enough to take care of them."

"Oh, how fine, father!" exclaimed Jasper with kindling eyes. "And then the girl that wants to learn to play on the piano."

"Oh dear me, yes!" Old Mr. King burst into a merry laugh. "I must look after that little girl, or Polly won't speak to me, I am afraid. Will you, Polly, my child?" He drew her close to him, and kissed her blooming cheek.

"I am so very glad you are going to look out for her, Grandpapa," she cried, "because you know I did feel so dreadfully when I used to drum on the table in the little brown house," she confessed.

"I know--I know, child." Grandpapa's face fell badly, and he held her very close. It always broke him up to hear the Peppers tell of the hard times in the little brown house, and Polly hastened to add brightly, "And then you came, Grandpapa dear, and you made it all just beautiful--oh Grandpapa!" and she clung to him, unable to say more.

"Yes, yes, so I did--so I did," cried the old gentleman delightedly, quite happy again, and stroking the brown hair. "Well, Polly, my girl, it isn't anything to the good times we are always going to have. And to-morrow, you and I must go down to see after poor Jim's family."

"And Jasper?" cried Polly, poking up her head from old Mr. King's protecting arm; "he must go too, Grandpapa."

"And Jasper? Why, we couldn't do anything without him, Polly," said the old gentleman in such a tone that Jasper threw back his head very proudly; "of course my boy must go too."