The landlord departed, still apologizing until the last moment, and after he had gone the pretended Andro leaped from his seat, slid off a disguise, and Ike, the tricky and wonderful Ike, ran down the stairs calling after the landlord, and when the latter answered, the boy said:
“Mr. Andro says you did not stop to examine the receipt.”
“Ah, that’s all right; I know he has the receipt. I do not wish to see it; it was all a mistake.”
Ike returned to the room and Mrs. Pell and Lulu came from the inner room, and the lady said:
“Ike, you are a wonderful fellow.”
Even in less than two days, with good food and care, Mrs. Pell had commenced to show considerable improvement, so that she was able to leave her bed, and move from room to room.
She and Ike sat down for a long talk. Ike had told his history and he proposed that as he had lost his father, as he called old Andro, Mrs. Pell would have to be a mother to him, and he added:
“I must hie me around and get into making money.”
“Why don’t you start out as a magician and ventriloquist?”
“For the best reason in the world,” answered Ike. “There are so many ‘fakes’ in the business it has ceased to be a drawing card, and there are hundreds of amateurs in the business. I’ve got a scheme, however, and I will carry it out. I have an idea I can make money and possibly a fortune in time. We will see, but I need friends, I need some one to confide in, to counsel with me, and to be company for me, and I want you to become my mother.”