burglar can find them," said Preston. "I
only wish I could get hold of them myself."

"The boy who helped to capture the burglar ought to be well rewarded,"
said one of the boarders.

"Don't you wish it had been you, Courtney?" said Mr. Preston.

"It was," answered Frank, quietly.

There was a great sensation upon this announcement. All eyes were turned
upon our hero--most, it must be admitted, with an expression of
incredulity.

"Come, now, you are joking!" said Preston. "You don't really mean it?"

"I do mean it," assured Frank.

"Tell us all about it," said Mrs. Fletcher, who had her share of
curiosity. "I didn't suppose we had such a hero in our house."

"It didn't require much heroism," said Frank, smiling.

"Tell us all about it, at any rate."

Frank told the story as simply as he could, much to the satisfaction of
the company.

"You'll come in for a handsome reward, when Mr. Percival gets home,"
suggested Mr. Smith.

"I don't expect anything," said Frank. "I shall be satisfied if I get
the dollar which was promised me. I haven't received that yet."

"I wish I were in your shoes--that's all I've got to say," said Preston,
nodding vigorously. "Will you sell out for five dollars?"

"Cash down?" asked Frank, smiling.

"Well, I'll give you my note at thirty days," said the Sixth Avenue
salesman, who seldom kept five dollars in advance of his liabilities.

"I won't sell what I haven't got," said Frank. "Probably I shall hear
nothing from Mr. Percival."

After breakfast Frank went downtown and sought the store of the Great
Pekin Company.

After half an hour's delay--for there were others in advance of him--he
was fitted out with samples and started for Brooklyn.

It was his first visit to that city, but he had received some directions
which made his expedition less embarrassing.

At the ferry he took a Flatbush Avenue car, and rode up Fulton Street,
and past the City Hall, up Fulton Avenue, for nearly a mile.

Here were interesting streets, lined with comfortable houses--for Frank
had made up his mind first to try private houses. He had with him a few
pound parcels of tea, which he thought he could perhaps succeed in
disposing of at such places.

He selected a house at random, and rang the bell.

A servant answered the ring.

Frank felt rather embarrassed, but there was no time to hesitate.

"I have some samples of tea with me," he began, "of excellent quality
and at reasonable prices."