“Better let us know pretty soon,” said Jim in businesslike tones. “We couldn’t hold it for you, of course.”
“N-no,” replied Gil, “I suppose not.”
There was a silence. Gil and Poke stared fascinatedly at each other. Finally:
“I guess,” blurted Gil, “we’ll say we’ll take it!”
“But, Gil!” cried Poke. “Don’t you think— Hadn’t we better talk it over a bit first?”
“Well, maybe we had. We—we’ll let you know in—in an hour.”
“Much obliged,” murmured Poke as they made their escape downstairs.
Once out of sight of the house Gil pulled up and leaned against the fence. “That—that was awful!” he gasped. “In another minute we’d have rented the room!”
“Sure thing,” agreed Poke solemnly. “How the dickens did we get started?”