or any other chance acquaintance."

"Don't you think he is all right?" asked our hero anxiously.

"I don't think he is the son of a rich merchant in New York."

"Then why should he tell me so?"

Tom was green, and I have no intention of concealing it.

"I can't tell what his designs may be. Did you tell him that you were
going to California?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then he will, of course, conclude that you have money. Did you tell him
where you keep it?"

"No, sir. I keep it in a belt around my waist."

"You are too ready to tell that, though with me the information is safe.
You are to room together. What will be easier, then, for your companion
to rob you during the night?"

"I'd better take a room alone," said Tom, now thoroughly alarmed.

"I should advise you to, in most cases, but at present it may be as well
to let things remain as they are, as it will save an awkward
explanation."

"But I don't want to be robbed."

"We have a safe in the office--there it is--in which we deposit articles
of value intrusted to us by our guests. Then we become responsible for
them. I advise you to leave your money with us overnight."

"I will," said Tom, relieved. "I shall have to go to my room to remove
it."

"Very well. If you have a watch, or any other valuable, it will be well
to put those in our charge also."

"No, sir, I have nothing of consequence but the money."

The belt of money was deposited in the safe, and Tom felt relieved. He
began to realize for the first time the need of prudence and caution. It
had never occurred to him that a nice, gentlemanly-looking man, like
Milton Graham, was likely to rob him of his scanty means. Even now he
thought there must be some mistake. Still he felt that he had done the
right thing in depositing the money with the clerk. The mere thought of
losing it, and finding himself high and dry--stranded, so to
speak--hundreds of miles from home, made him shudder. On the whole, Tom
had learned a valuable, though an unpleasant, lesson. The young are by
nature trustful. They are disposed to put confidence in those whom they
meet, even for the first time. Unhappily, in a world where there is so
much evil as there is in ours, such confidence is not justified. There
are too many who make it a business to prey on their fellows, and select
in preference the young and inexperienced.

It was only seven o'clock. Tom had a curiosity to see the city of
Pittsburg, with whose name he had been