“Probably, but I have no change in the house.”
“I can take a check,” said Tom.
“My husband is at his office downtown, and he will not be home until late. I will send your mother a check to-morrow.”
“If you will allow me, I will go down to your husband’s office,” suggested the boy. “You can write him a note, authorizing him to give me a check for the bill. Or you can telephone him,” he added, seeing an instrument in the rear of the hall.
The woman seemed rather annoyed at Tom’s suggestion, but she had no good excuse ready. Rather reluctantly, therefore, she telephoned to her husband at his office, and told him a boy would presently call on him with a bill, for which she requested Mr. Leeth to make out a check.
“Thank you,” said Tom, when Mrs. Leeth had given him the business address of her husband.
“I don’t believe I shall have your mother do any more work for me,” said the handsomely-dressed woman haughtily. “She disappointed me so this evening, by not having my waist here on time.”
Tom said nothing, but he rather thought his mother would not care to work for a customer who was so exacting, and so careless about pay.
Tom was soon at the big office building where Mr. Leeth had a suite of rooms. Though it was nine o’clock there were lights in several of the windows, for, it appeared, some of the tenants were working overtime. Mr. Leeth was agent for a big manufacturing concern.
Tom had to climb several flights of stairs to Mr. Leeth’s office. He found that gentleman in, and soon had received a check, which he knew would please his mother.