treet to his
favorite hanging-out place, the corner pool-room.

Mrs. Ricket was profuse in her apologies to Hal after Ferris had gone.

"He's a good enough boy," she said. "But he has got into bad company,
and I can't do anything with him."

"Aren't his parents living?" asked Hal.

"Only his father, and he is a sea captain and ain't home more than three
or four times a year. I wish he would take Dick along with him some
time, it might do him good."

"So it might," replied Hal. "By the way, Mrs. Ricket, do you know a man
by the name of Hardwick?"

"The book-keeper for the firm where Dick used to work?"

"Yes."

"I saw him once, when he was here to see Dick."

"Oh, did he come here?"

"Yes, about a week ago."

"He came to see your nephew, did he?"

"Yes. Dick took him up to his room, and the gentleman stayed about an
hour or more."

"Do you know where he lives?"

"On East Twenty-third Street, near Third Avenue."

"The Third Avenue elevated runs close to it, then?"

"Yes. Why do you want to know?"

"I may have to go up on business sometime. I didn't care to ask your
nephew for the directions."

"I see."

Mrs. Ricket passed to the rear of the hall, and Hal continued on his to
his room.

"So the two are friends," he said to himself, as he was washing himself
and combing his hair. "And both of them are my enemies. This is getting
interesting, to say the least." He paused for a second. "I have half a
mind to do it. It won't do any harm. I will."

He hurried down to supper, which was being served in the basement, and
as soon as it was over, donned his coat and cap once more and made his
way over to Third Avenue.

An elevated train was just entering the station, and, paying his nickel,
he dropped his ticket in the box, and rushed aboard.

The Fourteenth and Eighteenth Street stations were soon passed. Then
came Twenty-third Street, and here Hal alighted.

It had begun to snow again, and the youth was compelled to pull his
coat-collar well up around his ears, and his cap far down over his eyes,
to protect himself from the elements.

He walked down East Twenty-third Street slowly, scanning the buildings
closely as he passed. It was now about half-past eight o'clock, and he
knew it would probably be some time before Hardwick would make his
appearance.

Having walked several blocks, Hal retraced his steps, and then took up a
position in a sheltering door-way.

He had hardly done so before a well