breast of the whole matter. While he
was telling his tale, Dick came in, and he was likewise told.

"And you mean to say that you lost the whole hundred dollars!"
ejaculated the newsboy. "That's awful, Nat!"

"I wish I could get hold of that Nick Smithers. I'd--I'd wring his neck
for him!"

"It won't do any good to look for him. I know his kind. He's here to-day
and gone to-morrow. Those chaps work their schemes all over the States."

Nat was in no humor to eat supper, and scarcely touched a mouthful. Mrs.
Talcott and Dick did all they could to cheer him up.

"Make the best of it," said the newsboy. "You'll be sure to strike
something good sooner or later."

"I guess I'm too much of a greeny to do that," answered Nat.

That night when our hero went to bed he could not sleep. His ready money
was running low, and how to turn he did not know. Bitterly he upbraided
himself for having trusted Nick Smithers, but this did no good. His
money was gone, and it was doubtful if he would ever see a cent of it
again.

"I ought to go back on the farm where I belong," he muttered. "I'm not
smart enough to get along in a city like New York."

But by morning his thoughts took a turn, and at breakfast his eyes were
as bright and expectant as ever.

"I'm going out and get something to do," he said firmly. "And I'm not
going to let anybody get the best of me again."

"Do not worry," said Mrs. Talcott. "You can stay here, even if you don't
get anything right away. I'll trust you for the board."

"You are very kind," answered Nat, gratefully. "But I can't stand it to
do nothing."

All of that day he tramped up one street and down another looking for a
situation, but without success.

He could have had one job as an errand boy, but the wages offered were
but two dollars per week.

"I can't take that," he said. "I've got to support myself even if I
can't do better."

On the next day it rained, but he went out, nevertheless, with an
umbrella which Mrs. Talcott loaned him.

He had several advertisements, taken from the morning papers, and lost
no time in applying at first one place and then another.

The third place offered on his list was in a big office building down
near the corner of Broadway and Park Row. When Nat arrived there he
found half a dozen young fellows ahead of him.

"You will all have to wait until Mr. Garwell arrives," said a clerk to
the crowd. "I expect him any moment."

"Hope he don't keep us too lo