is way to California."

"Eight hundred dollars together! That would make a good haul."

"So it would, but it won't be easy to get it."

While this conversation was going on Tom informed Mr. Waterbury of what
had passed between Graham and himself.

"So he warned you against me, did he?" said Mr. Waterbury laughingly.

"Yes, he thought I would be safer in his company."

"If you want to exchange, I will retire," said Mr. Waterbury, smiling.

"Thank you; I would rather not. I am glad I met you, or he might have
managed to get in with me."

It was not long before they came to a landing. It was a small river
village, whose neat white houses, with here and there one of greater
pretensions, presented an attractive appearance. A lady and her daughter
came on board here. The lady was dressed in black, and appeared to be a
widow. The girl was perhaps fourteen years of age, with a bright,
attractive face. Two trunks were put on the boat with them, and as they
were the only passengers from this landing, Tom inferred that they were
their property.

"That's quite a pretty girl," said Mr. Waterbury.

"Yes," answered Tom.

"You ought to get acquainted with her," said Mr. Waterbury jocosely.

"Perhaps," said Tom shyly, "you will get acquainted with them, and then
you can introduce me."

"You are quite sharp," said Mr. Waterbury, laughing. "However, your
hint is a good one. I may act upon it."

It happened, however, that Tom required no introduction. As the lady and
her daughter walked across the deck, to occupy some desirable seats on
the other side, the former dropped a kid glove, which Tom, espying,
hastened forward and, picking up, politely tendered to the owner.

"You are very kind," said the lady, in a pleasant voice. "I am much
obliged."

"Mama is quite in the habit of dropping her gloves," said the young
girl, with a smiling glance at Tom. "I really think she does it on
purpose."

"Then, perhaps, I had better keep near-by to pick them up," said Tom.

"Really, Jennie," said her mother, "you are giving the young gentleman a
strange impression of me."

"Well, mama, you know you dropped your gloves in the street the last
time you were in Pittsburg, but there was no gentleman to pick them up,
so I had to. Are you going to Cincinnati?" she asked, turning to Tom.

"Yes, and farther; I am going to California," replied Tom.

"Dear me, you will be quite a traveler. I wish I were going to
California."

"You wouldn