Dorothy Dale in the City Part 25

"Room Fourteen Hundred and Nine to your right," said the elevator boy, without Tavia having asked him anything about it.

"To your right," sounded simple, but as Tavia surveyed the various halls, running in numerous directions, she grew weary of her first business trip and so tired that she almost lost sight of the reason for the journey.

Under the guidance of a flippant young person, Tavia finally located "to the right."

She opened the door and entered. She fairly rushed into the office because she felt that Mr. Akerson must be tired waiting for her arrival.

A small boy sat at a telephone switchboard.

"Who d'yer wanta see?" asked the boy, with utter indifference.

"Mr. Akerson," said Tavia.

The boy telephoned to somewhere, and presently a young girl appeared, and without a word, conducted Tavia through a long suite of offices, with crowds of clerks, desks and bookcases in every conceivable corner. The young miss poked her head into a door and called out:

"Mr. A."

"A's not in," called back another young voice. "Back in half an hour."

Tavia sat down and looked about her. So this was the way business men kept important appointments! Back in half an hour! It seemed ages since Tavia left Mrs. White's breakfast room, but the ticking clock on the wall announced that it was just ten-thirty. She must return for lunch, or the family would be frightened. She quietly looked about her, and in one quick glance decided that after all, the various eyes that were looking her way, might be kindly eyes, and with a great deal of courage, for it really takes courage to face a long line of clerks in a business office, Tavia smiled at the entire force. Soon she became interested in the clicking typewriting machines, and the adding apparatus, and forgot all about herself, which seemed the best thing in the world to do. The most comfortable and happy people of all are those who can become so interested in others that they forget themselves.

CHAPTER XVIII DANGEROUS GROUND

"Miss--," began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him 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 brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

"Oh, yes, you are the lady who 'phoned me? Want to see me about something very important; don't you?" he asked, looking at Tavia's fresh young face with open admiration. Instinctively Tavia did not like Mr. Akerson. His brown eyes were large and bold, and his manners too free and easy. As she gazed straight at him she wondered how she, alone, could deal with such a man. 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 air as this makes us old fellows young," he rubbed his large hands together as he talked. "I suppose you've been skating in the Park, and enjoying the Winter pleasures, as girls do!"

"No, indeed," answered Tavia sedately, "we haven't been skating yet, but we're going to the Park to-morrow." Then she could have bitten off her tongue for saying anything so foolish-for telling this stranger anything about her engagements.

The man did not seem in a hurry to find out her business. She drew herself up and raising her chin, which was always a sign that Tavia was becoming determined, she said:

"I wish to inquire about one of your apartments."

"I understood you to say that it was special business with me," he laughed, and looked keenly at Tavia. "You could have asked any of the clerks 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 the renting of all our places."

Tavia was puzzled. She would not talk to the clerks, she wanted to find out from Mr. Akerson himself. She smiled sweetly.

"I was told," she said, "that in regard to this particular apartment, the Court 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 being renting agent, and not the company you represent."

Mr. Akerson sat back, evidently very much relieved. He toyed with a letter 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. We do not carry that place on the lists."

For one wild moment Tavia wanted to laugh. This shrewd man, of whom she had felt so much in awe, was calmly telling her just what she wanted to know!

"I wish," said Tavia, "to see about renting an apartment there."

"An apartment just for yourself?" he asked, and he looked so queerly at Tavia that she hesitated.

"No," hastily corrected Tavia, "that is, not alone. I expect to have-someone with me." Which, as Tavia said to herself, was perfectly true, 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 he displeased her.

"What can you afford to pay?" he asked. "The rents differ. But, I have no doubt, I could give you an apartment on very reasonable terms."

"I couldn't afford to pay over fifty dollars per month," answered Tavia smoothly, which was the price at which the apartments were supposed to be rented.

"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 same rooms that I'll let you have for eighty dollars per month."

"Eighty dollars!" exclaimed Tavia, "I understood that the rents were only forty and fifty dollars!"

"My dear young lady," said the man soothingly, "in that section! And such beautifully arranged rooms! I ask eighty and one hundred dollars for those apartments, and I get it. But, as I said, if there are any particular 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 apartment changed hands they could be rented for thirty-five dollars. But I built the place up, improved it, made it worth the price, and I can get that amount. Only, if you've set your little heart--"

Tavia jumped up. The man had leaned so far over toward her, that she resented the familiarity implied. She drew herself up to her full height and said coldly:

"I do not care to pay more than the regular renting price for the Court Apartments. If you will lease an apartment at fifty dollars, you shall hear from me again."

"Done!" said the man, "but I can't promise that the rent will go on indefinitely at that figure. You can have it at that rental for three months, but understand, the woman across the hall from you and the family above, 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 to Tavia.

With cool dignity she backed slowly to the door, ignoring Mr. Akerson's outstretched hand.