l my plans."

"Yes, Dick, of course you can't go."

"If my father should recover, in a few weeks, I will come out and
join you, Charlie."

"I hope you may be able to, Dick. By the way, how about your ticket?"

"I shall have to lose it, unless the company will give me another in
place of it."

"They ought to do it."

"Yes, but they are rather stiff about it. I would sell it for a
hundred dollars."

Joe heard this and his heart beat high.

He pressed forward, and said eagerly:

"Will you sell it to me for that?"

The young man addressed as Dick looked, in surprise, at the poorly
dressed boy who had addressed him.

"Do you want to go to California?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," said Joe. "I am very anxious to go."

"Do I understand you to offer a hundred dollars for my ticket?"

"Yes, sir; but I can't pay you now."

"When do you expect to be able to pay me, then?"

"Not till I've earned the money in California."

"Have you thought before of going?"

"Yes, sir. Until an hour ago I thought that it was all arranged that
I should go. I came down here and found that the ticket I had bought
was a bogus one, and that I had been swindled out of my money."

"That was a mean trick," said Dick Scudder indignantly. "Do you know
the man that cheated you?"

"Yes; he is on board the steamer."

"How much money have you got left?"

"A dollar."

"Only a dollar? And you are not afraid to land in California with
this sum?"

"No, sir. I shall go to work at once."

"Charlie," said Dick, turning to his friend, "I will do as you say.
Are you willing to take this boy into your stateroom in my place?"

"Yes," said Charles Folsom promptly. "He looks like a good boy. I
accept him as my roommate."

"All right," said the other. "My boy, what is your name?"

"Joe Mason."

"Well, Joe, here is my ticket. If you are ever able to pay a hundred
dollars for this ticket, you may pay it to my friend, Charles Folsom.
Now, I advise you both to be getting aboard, as it is nearly time for
the steamer to sail. I won't go on with you, Charlie, as I must go
back to my father's bedside."

"Good-by, sir. God bless you!" said Joe gratefully. "Good-by, Joe,
and good luck!"

As they went over the plank, the officer, recognizing Joe, said
roughly:

"Stand back, boy! Didn't I tell you you couldn't go aboard without a
ticket?"

"Here is my ticket," said Joe.

"A first-class ticket!" exclaimed the officer, in amazement.