Old Grannis had received his check.

It was large enough, to be sure, but when all was over, he returned to his room and sat there sad and unoccupied, looking at the pattern in the carpet and counting the heads of the tacks in the zinc guard that was fastened to the wall behind his little stove.

By and by he heard Miss Baker moving about.

It was five o'clock, the time when she was accustomed to make her cup of tea and "keep company" with him on her side of the partition.

Old Grannis drew up his chair to the wall near where he knew she was sitting.