Softy
Meadows was in bed with a broken leg. Tully Scott would do it for
three fifty. So I gave him the number and told him to do it that
afternoon without fail.

"Pretty soon Mr. Nesbitt came home. 'How about that rubbish?'

"'I got Tully Scott to do it for three fifty.'

"He fairly tore his hair. 'Three fifty! Tully Scott is the biggest
highway robber in town, and everybody knows it! Why didn't you get the
mayor and be done with it? Three fifty! Great Scott! Three fifty!
You call his lordship Tully Scott up and ask him if he'll haul that
rubbish for a dollar and a half, and if he won't you can call off the
deal.'

"I called him up, quietly, but inwardly raging.

"'Will you haul that rubbish for a dollar and a half?'

"'No,' he drawled through his nose, 'I won't haul no rubbish for no
dollar and a half, and you can tell old Skinflint I said so.'

"He hung up. So did I.

"'What did he say?'

"I thought the nasal inflection made it more forceful, so I said, 'No,
I won't haul no rubbish for no dollar and a half, and you can tell old
Skinflint I said so.'

"Mr. Orchard laughed, and Mr. Nesbitt got red.

"'Call up Ben Moore and see if he can do it.'

"I looked him straight in the eye. 'Nothing doing,' I said, with
dignity. 'If you want any more garbage haulers, you can get them.'

"I sat down to the typewriter. Mr. Orchard nearly shut himself up in a
big law book in his effort to keep from meeting anybody's eye. But
Nesbitt went to the phone and called Ben Moore. Ben Moore had a four
days' job on his hands. Then he called Jim Green, and Softy Meadows,
and finally in despair called the only one left. John Knox,--nice
orthodox name, my dear. John Knox would do it for the modest sum of
five dollars, and not a--well, I'll spare you the details, but he
wouldn't do it for a cent less. Nesbitt raved, and Nesbitt swore, but
John Knox, while he may not be a pillar in the church, certainly stood
like a rock. Nesbitt could pay it or lose his tenant. He paid.

"Mr. Orchard got up and put on his hat. 'Miss Connie wants some
flowers and some candy and an ice-cream soda, my boy, and I want some
cigars, and a coca cola. It's on you. Will you come along and pay the
bill, or will you give us the money?'

"'I guess it will be cheaper to come along,' said Nesbitt, looking
bashfully at me, for I was very haughty. But I put on my hat, and it
cost him just one dollar and ninety cents to square himself.