ell yet. I haven't counted up," said Paul.

"It's better'n sellin' papers, I'll bet. I've only made thirty cents the
day. Don't you want to take a partner, Johnny?"

"No, I don't think I do," said Paul, who had good reason to doubt
whether such a step would be to his advantage.

"Then I'll go in for myself," said Teddy, somewhat displeased at the
refusal.

"Go ahead! There's nobody to stop you," said Paul.

"I'd rather go in with you," said Teddy, feeling that there would be
some trouble in making the prize packages, but influenced still more by
the knowledge that he had not capital enough to start in the business
alone.

"No," said Paul, positively; "I don't want any partner. I can do well
enough alone."

He was not surprised at Teddy's application. Street boys are as
enterprising, and have as sharp eyes for business as their elders, and
no one among them can monopolize a profitable business long. This is
especially the case with the young street merchant. When one has had
the good luck to find some attractive article which promises to sell
briskly, he takes every care to hide the source of his supply from his
rivals in trade. But this is almost impossible. Cases are frequent where
such boys are subjected to the closest espionage, their steps being
dogged for hours by boys who think they have found a good thing and are
determined to share it. In the present case Paul had hit upon an idea
which seemed to promise well, and he was determined to keep it to
himself as long as possible. As soon as he was subjected to competition
and rivalry his gains would probably diminish.

CHAPTER II

PAUL AT HOME

Paul went up Centre street and turned into Pearl. Stopping before a
tenement-house, he entered, and, going up two flights of stairs, opened
a door and entered.

"You are home early, Paul," said a woman of middle age, looking up at
his entrance.

"Yes, mother; I've sold out."

"You've not sold out the whole fifty packages?" she asked, in surprise.

"Yes, I have. I had capital luck."

"Why, you must have made as much as a dollar, and it's not twelve yet."

"I've made more than that, mother. Just wait a minute, till I've
reckoned up a little. Where's Jimmy?"

"Miss Beckwith offered to take him out to walk with her, so I let him
go. He'll be back at twelve."

While Paul is making a calculation, a few words of explanation and
description may be given, so that the reader may understand better how
he is si