CHAPTER XVIII DANGEROUS GROUND
"Miss----," began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as hestood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relievedhim of his great fur coat and cane. "I don't believe I have your name.I'm Mr. Akerson."
"I'm Octavia Travers," answered Tavia, looking straight into the browneyes of Mr. Akerson.
"Oh, yes, you are the lady who 'phoned me? Want to see me about somethingvery important; don't you?" he asked, looking at Tavia's fresh young facewith open admiration. Instinctively Tavia did not like Mr. Akerson. Hisbrown eyes were large and bold, and his manners too free and easy. As shegazed straight at him she wondered how she, alone, could deal with such aman. But she followed him, nevertheless, into an office marked"_Private_" and the door closed behind them.
"Wonderful weather; is it not?" he asked, pleasantly. "Such bracing airas this makes us old fellows young," he rubbed his large hands togetheras he talked. "I suppose you've been skating in the Park, and enjoyingthe Winter pleasures, as girls do!"
"No, indeed," answered Tavia sedately, "we haven't been skating yet, butwe're going to the Park to-morrow." Then she could have bitten off hertongue for saying anything so foolish--for telling this stranger anythingabout her engagements.
The man did not seem in a hurry to find out her business. She drewherself up and raising her chin, which was always a sign that Tavia wasbecoming determined, she said:
"I wish to inquire about one of your apartments."
"I understood you to say that it was special business with me," helaughed, and looked keenly at Tavia. "You could have asked any of theclerks about that."
"I thought that I would have to see you personally, of course."
"Oh, no, that was not necessary. My clerks are conversant with therenting of all our places."
Tavia was puzzled. She would not talk to the clerks, she wanted to findout from Mr. Akerson himself. She smiled sweetly.
"I was told," she said, "that in regard to this particular apartment, theCourt Apartments, that I could only rent from you."
The man glanced up quickly, and closing his eyes shrewdly, asked Tavia,lowering his voice:
"Who sent you to me?"
"A friend of mine lives there and she mentioned your name as beingrenting agent, and not the company you represent."
Mr. Akerson sat back, evidently very much relieved. He toyed with aletter opener.
"No," he said slowly, "the Court Apartments do not belong to the company,and the clerks could not have given you the information about renting. Wedo not carry that place on the lists."
For one wild moment Tavia wanted to laugh. This shrewd man, of whom shehad felt so much in awe, was calmly telling her just what she wanted toknow!
"I wish," said Tavia, "to see about renting an apartment there."
"An apartment just for yourself?" he asked, and he looked so queerly atTavia that she hesitated.
"No," hastily corrected Tavia, "that is, not alone. I expect tohave--someone with me." Which, as Tavia said to herself, was perfectlytrue, though she hesitated over it.
"Lucky young chap!" murmured the man, and Tavia flushed hotly.
"The rent, please," demanded Tavia, trying to show the man how much hedispleased her.
"What can you afford to pay?" he asked. "The rents differ. But, I have nodoubt, I could give you an apartment on very reasonable terms."
"I couldn't afford to pay over fifty dollars per month," answered Taviasmoothly, which was the price at which the apartments were supposed to berented.
"I'm willing to shave off a bit," said Mr. Akerson, very generously."Some of my tenants there are paying one hundred dollars for the samerooms that I'll let you have for eighty dollars per month."
"Eighty dollars!" exclaimed Tavia, "I understood that the rents were onlyforty and fifty dollars!"
"My dear young lady," said the man soothingly, "in that section! And suchbeautifully arranged rooms! I ask eighty and one hundred dollars forthose apartments, and I get it. But, as I said, if there are anyparticular rooms that you fancy," the man smiled familiarly at Tavia,"maybe I could come to terms with you."
"I'm sure I am right about the rents being forty and fifty dollars,"Tavia insisted.
"Oh, they were that a long time ago; in fact, the last time the apartmentchanged hands they could be rented for thirty-five dollars. But I builtthe place up, improved it, made it worth the price, and I can get thatamount. Only, if you've set your little heart----"
Tavia jumped up. The man had leaned so far over toward her, that sheresented the familiarity implied. She drew herself up to her full heightand said coldly:
"I do not care to pay more than the regular renting price for the CourtApartments. If you will lease an apartment at fifty dollars, you shallhear from me again."
"Done!" said the man, "but I can't promise that the rent will go onindefinitely at that figure. You can have it at that rental for threemonths, but understand, the woman across the hall from you and the familyabove, are paying one hundred dollars per month."
"I'm sure you're very kind," said Tavia, arranging her fur neck piece,and pulling on her gloves, "I appreciate it very much."
"Don't mention it," said Mr. Akerson, grandly expanding his broad chest,"I always aim to give a lady whatever she wants," and he came nearer toTavia.
With cool dignity she backed slowly to the door, ignoring Mr. Akerson'soutstretched hand.
A quick flush mounted the man's brow, and he bowed Tavia out of hisprivate office.
Once again in the open, she breathed freely.
"What a perfectly horrid man," she murmured. "To think that Mrs. Whitereceives but thirty-five dollars from each apartment and he actually getseighty and one hundred dollars! Poor Miss Mingle! It must take everypenny she earns just to pay the rent! And it takes all Aunt Winniereceives to pay the expenses and taxes of the place! And with thedifference Mr. Akerson buys fur coats and things." Tavia's indignationknew no bounds.
On the trip home she thought quickly and clearly.
Arriving there, she was met by an excited family.
"Wherever have you been?" cried Dorothy.
"My dear," gasped Aunt Winnie, "you've given us an awful fright!"
"I was just down to start out on a trip through the hospitals and policestations," said Ned.
"And I've now spoiled the beautiful trip," said Tavia, with a laugh."It's just delightful to stay away long enough to be missed."
"Yes, I know it is," said Dorothy. "But where have you been?"
"Out," was Tavia's laconic answer.
"Really!" said Ned, with broad sarcasm.
Aunt Winnie smiled. "Don't tell them your secret, Tavia; they only wantto find out so that they can tease you about it."
"Anyone who insists on hearing my secret," said Tavia, striking a tragicpose, "does so at his peril!"
Ned decided that it was worth the risk, and rushed at Tavia to wrench thesecret bare, but she eluded him skillfully, leaping directly over acouch. Ned was close at her heels, and out into the hall she ran,shutting the door after her, keeping Ned on the other side. In a momentit was opened. Desperate, Tavia sprang to the entrance into the mainhall, and Ned followed so closely that they reached the divan in the hallat the same moment, Tavia sinking exhausted into its depths. She had won,because Ned could do nothing now except stand gallantly by--he could notsmother Tavia in pillows in the public hall, and still maintain hisdignity--so Tavia's secret remained her own.
Dorothy appeared in the doorway.
"Such perfectly foolish young people!" she scolded. "Come inside thisinstant! It's a good thing that father will arrive to-night, to balancethis frivolous family!"
Tavia sat up astonished. "Major Dale coming to-night? I'm so glad. AndNat and Joe and Roger! Won't that be fine for the skating party?"
Dorothy, too, sank into the comfortable divan.
"Father's rheumatism is all well again, and they will arriv
e in time fordinner to-night," she said. "The telegram came directly after breakfast."
"Dorothy told me about your visit to Miss Mingle in the apartment house,"said Ned, suddenly becoming serious. But Tavia did not want to discussapartment houses just then, and she jumped lightly to her feet, just asAunt Winnie opened the door.
"There's someone on the 'phone asking for Miss Travers!" she said.
Certainly mysterious things were happening to Tavia that day, thoughtDorothy, as she and Ned stood, frankly curious, while Tavia clung to thereceiver.
"Hello!" she said, in a trembling voice.
"Yes, this is Miss Travers!"
"No, I do not know your voice."
"Really, I never heard your voice before!"
"Yes, this is Mrs. White's apartment."
"I'm from Dalton, yes, and my name is Travers, but I don't know you."
"Ned? He's here. You want to speak to him?"
She stepped from the telephone and handed the receiver to Ned: "It's aman's voice and he kept laughing, but I'm sure I never met him, and hefinally asked for you," she explained.
"How are you, old chum?" sang out Ned, heartily. "Yes, certainly, comeright upstairs. Get off at the third floor. The girls will be wild withjoy!"
"Who is it?" demanded Dorothy and Tavia, in one voice.
"He'll be in the room in a minute," answered Ned, mysteriously.