The $500 Check — page 244: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BERT SECURES BOARD. | 295 In five minutes Bert found himself standing in front of a rather shabby three-story house, in a decent, but not fashionable, street. The name Stubbs was on the door. Bert rang the bell, and inquired for Mrs. Stubbs. He was ushered into a small reception room on oneside of the front door, furnished in cheap, | boarding-house style, and took a seat on astiff- backed cane chair. : Presently a thin lady, with cork-screw curls, and a pale, washed-out complexion, entered the room. ‘‘Did you wish to see me, sir?’’ she said. ‘“Yes,’’ answered Bert. ‘‘ You answered an advertisement about Ralph Harding. I come from New York.”’ ‘‘Have you brought my money?” asked — Mrs. Stubbs, with animation. ‘‘'What money do you refer to ?”’ ‘‘Mr. Harding’s board bill. Isentit in the letter.”’ ‘““We don’t feel called upon to pay Mr. Harding’s debts,’’ returned Bert, who had been instructed by Uncle Jacob to say this. GOomichoo CSi