“Yes, Mr. Buckner.”
“Well, they have materialized. Can you give me your time unrestrictedly for a week or ten days?”
“Why—yes, I think so,” answered Frank, but somewhat slowly, for he thought of their family complications.
Mr. Buckner was a keen-witted man. He read something under the surface in Frank’s hesitancy.
“Something troubling you, Frank?” he suggested.
“Oh, nothing serious, Mr. Buckner. It seems we have offended Mr. Dorsett. He is our landlord. He has ordered us to leave the house we rent from him within five days.”
“Hum, the old curmudgeon! His house! I wonder whose it would be if some of his clever rascality was investigated?”
“Well, I suppose we have got to go,” said Frank. “He is ugly and determined.”
“Oh, that difficulty can be easily solved,” declared Mr. Buckner, lightly. “You know the vacant store front on Cedar street? I am agent for that property, owner a non-resident. There are five nice, comfortable living rooms upstairs. It’s only two blocks’ move for you. If it suits you, make the move. You need pay no rent until you decide where you wish to locate permanently.”
“You are very kind,” said Frank.