years. But rents are going up in this neighborhood and Well, I can get a much more satisfactory tenant."
"You have been warning them out of the cottage?" asked Mrs. Prentice, quickly.
"Not just that," said the old man, rubbing his hands together as though he had an imaginary cake of soap between them and was busily washing the Morse affair from his palms. "You see, I've told them I shall be obliged to increase their rent at New Year's."
"What do they pay you now?"
Mr. Chumley told her frankly. He wasn't ashamed of what he took for the renting of that particular piece of property. In a business way, he was doing very well, and business was all that mattered with Mr. Chumley.
"But that's better than I can get for the same sort of a cottage in this very vicinity," exclaimed Mrs. Prentice.
"Ah! these agents!" groaned Mr. Chumley, shaking his head. "They never will do as well as they should for an owner. I found that out long ago. If I was a younger man, Mrs. Prentice, I would take hold of your property and get you twenty-five per cent. more out of it."
"Perhaps," commented the lady. "And you intend to raise the rent on these people?"
