"I t'ought I'd make ye sit up and
take notice. But say! wot's good on the menu ter-day?"
"Oh, say! take me tip," said Polly. "Order two platters of Irish stew an'
a plate o' ham an' eggs. Youse'll have a bully feed then. Eggs is cheap
an' Mother Beasley's givin' t'ree fer fifteen cents, wid the ham throwed
in. That'll give youse each an egg an' plenty of stew in the two platters
for all t'ree."
This arrangement of a course dinner on so economical a plan made Bess
open her eyes, while Nan was greatly amused.
"How strong's the bank?" asked Inez of Nan, whom she considered the
leader of the expedition. "Can we stand fifteen cents apiece?"
"I think so," returned the girl from Tillbury, gravely.
"Good as gold, then!" their pilot said. "We'll go to it. By-by, Polly!"
She marched into the basement. Bess would never have dared proceed that
far had it not been for Nan's presence.
A woman with straggling gray hair met them at the door of the long
dining-room. She had a tired and almost toothless smile; but had it not
been for her greasy wrapper, uncombed hair and grimy nails, Mother
Beasley might have been rather attractive.
"Good afternoon, dearies," she said. "Dinner's most over; but maybe we
can find something for you. You goin' to eat, Inez?"
"Ev'ry chance't I get," declared the flower-seller, promptly.
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