especially during the evening.

"I have nothing to do between now and bedtime," he thought. "I'll take a
stroll up the Bowery, and take in all that is to be seen. In such a place
as New York it will be easy enough to find a cheap hotel when I want to
retire."

So leaving the Battery, he traveled up to Park Row, and continued along
until the Bowery was reached.

The Bowery, even at this early hour in the evening, was alive with people.
Many of the men and women were of very questionable character, but Ralph
did not know this. He walked along, staring at everything to be seen.

Presently he came to a clothing establishment, in front of which were hung
a number of suits marked at very low figures. He stopped to examine them,
and hardly had he done so when an outside salesman, or "puller-in," as he
is called, approached him.

"Nice suits, eh?" he said, pleasantly, as he placed his hand on Ralph's
arm.

"They look so," returned the boy.

"Come in and try one on."

"No, thank you; not to-night."

"Won't cost you anything; come on," persisted the fellow.

"I don't care to buy to-night."

"That's all right; just try 'em on, and see how nice they look on you."

"Thank you, but I won't bother you," and Ralph attempted to walk away.

The "puller-in" was not going to lose him thus easily, however. Trade had
been bad with him for the day, and he felt he must sell something or his
position with the owner of the establishment would be at stake.

"It's no trouble to show goods, my dear sir; walk right in," he said, and,
instead of letting Ralph go, pushed him toward the open store doors.

"But I don't want to buy," insisted Ralph, who began to fancy he was not
being treated just right.

"Didn't ask you to buy, my dear sir. Isaac just show this young gentleman
some of those beautiful all-wool suits for nine and ten dollars."

A greasy old Jew at once came forward, rubbing his hands.

"Chust sthep back here," he said, smiling broadly. "I vill show you der
greatest pargains in New York."

"But I don't care to bu----" began Ralph again, but the Jew cut him short.

"Ve got dese suits at a great pargain," he said. "Da vos made originally to
sell at twenty dollars. So efery von vot buys von of dem suits saves ten or
elefen dollars on der burchase brice."

He hurried Ralph back to the rear of the store, and in a trice had at hand
half a dozen suits, more or less faded, and of exceedingly doubtful
material.

"Chust t