"Black Friday! Beware! The cat's loose—rampaging!"
It was a warning that Miss Pim, in a periodic spasm of alarm, was spreading dismay through the two houses in her progress in search of long-deferred rents.
"Horrors!" exclaimed Winona Horning. She sprang to the door which gave into her room, ready to use it as an escape from either attack.
"Twice this week. Um-m—means business!" said Doré solemnly. "I'm three weeks behind. How are you?"
"Five!"
"We must get busy," said Doré pensively. "I have just two dollars in sight!"
"Two? You're a millionaire!"
"The champagne will bring something," said Doré, fingering the basket, "but I can't let it go until Mr. Peavey—If he'd only call up for to-night! Zip might take the perfume, but I need it so! Worse luck, the flowers have all come from the wrong places. There's twenty dollars there, if it were only Pouffé. And look at this!"
She went to her bureau, and opening a little drawer, held up a bank-note.
"Fifty dollars!" exclaimed Winona, amazed.