"Maybe so, but what's two dollars? The materials are worth more than that as junk. And if they fix it.... How about going along with me to return it, Ken?"
Ken lit his pipe carefully and glanced at his wristwatch.
"Okay," he said, "if we can be back in an hour. I'm curious to see this place, but I've got a date with Lorene tonight and I have to get cleaned up."
Jack winced. The roommates were competitors for the hand of Lorene Shavely, the pert brunette in the tobacco store down the street. But Ken was getting so much the better of it that it could be called competition in name only by now.
"It's only about five blocks, on Gehannon Street," Jack said. "We'll be back in time."
He repacked the television set in its box.
"Ardex," said Ken, reading the name on the box. "Off-brand. I never heard of it before."
They set out, Jack carrying the box under one arm. The set was remarkably light for its size.
The street lights were coming on along Gehannon Street, for it was five o'clock on a winter afternoon. Jack bought a late edition from a newsboy on the corner.
"Probably closed by now," said Ken.