"I don't know as I blame him," said Frank.
"I wish Merrill wasn't so stiff about it. He's terribly afraid of losing his bill."
"That's where he's right," said Frank, laughing. "I'd be the same if I were in his place."
"Do you always pay your bills right off?" said Luke.
"Yes, I do. I don't pretend to be a model boy. I'm afraid I keep bad company," he continued, "but I don't owe a cent to anybody except for board and that I pay up at the end of every week."
Luke dropped the subject, not finding it to his taste.
On Saturday night he went round to the tailor's.
"Have you got my pants done, Mr. Hayden?"
"Yes—here they are."
"Let me see," he said, "how much are they?"