n the warmest terms of the boys who had befriended him when he was in
such bitter trouble. After the boys had entered the room, Mr. Weston
explained why it was that he was still in New York City, when it
seemed almost certain that he had sailed for Europe.

In a very few moments after the steamer had started from the pier
Mrs. Weston had asked him to send Paul to their cabin, she needing his
service in some trifling matter; and when Mr. Weston looked around for
his son, of course he could not be found. A hasty and vain search was
made, and then the boy whom Paul had left behind to acquaint his
father of the important business of buying tops that had called him
away, told the story which he would probably have told before had he
known which one of the many passengers his newly-made friend's father
was. Leaving his wife and daughter to continue the journey alone, Mr.
Weston had come back with the pilot, and from that day until then he
had searched for his son, never once thinking that almost any newsboy
in the vicinity of City Hall could have given him full particulars.

Paul had told him of the generosity which his friends had shown in
devoting all the theatrical funds, and nearly all of the money they
had individually, to the purchase of the ticket to Chicago; and after
he had told them how it was that he had remained in the city, he said,
as he took the ticket Paul was holding in his hand to give back to his
friends,

"I shall keep this ticket, boys, even though Paul will not need it,
for we shall sail for Europe in the next steamer. I want it as a
reminder of generosity and nobility as shown by four boys, who could
not have been censured if they had let the lost boy work his own way
back to his home. I shall have it framed, with your names written on
it; and when any one asks the meaning of it, I shall tell them that it
was bought for my son by four noble boys of New York."

Ben's eyes fairly sparkled with delight as Mr. Weston bestowed this
praise, and Mopsey drew himself up at full height, as if the idea of
doing the charitable deed had originated with him, instead of his
having been opposed to it.

"Now, boys," continued Mr. Weston, "I shall try to do something
towards repaying you for your kindness to Paul; but then I have
another matter to settle with you. I advertised that I would give a
reward to any one who should bring me information of my son. You have
done that by bringing the boy himself, and are, the