t dropped into a slow walk to catch his breath. "Those
people are not thieves, but they are next door to it."

Ralph was so disgusted with the Bowery--which, in reality, has many nice
places of business in it--that he left the street at the next corner.

At nine o'clock he found himself in the vicinity of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Here he came across a cheap but neat-looking hotel. He entered and engaged
a room for himself alone on the top floor for fifty cents, and soon after
retired and slept soundly until morning.

The boy was on the streets again long before the time appointed for his
next call at Horace Kelsey's offices. Having nothing to do, he mounted to
the bridge, and took a walk across to Brooklyn and return. This gave him a
splendid view of both cities, and afforded him a means of enjoyment until
it was time to make the call.

He had brushed himself up to the last degree, and invested in another shine
for his shoes, and a clean collar and tie, so now, even if his clothing was
rather worn and torn in one or two places, he nevertheless looked quite
respectable.

"He is in," said the clerk, when Ralph entered the offices, and the next
moment Horace Kelsey came forward and shook him by the hand.

"This is an unexpected pleasure," said the insurance agent. "Step into my
private office," and he led the way, showed Ralph to a seat, and closed the
door. "My clerk told me of your calling yesterday."

"This is a totally unexpected trip, Mr. Kelsey," returned Ralph, by way of
apologizing for his appearance. "When I started, I had no idea I would end
up in New York."

"Indeed!" and the gentleman looked his curiosity.

"I've got rather a long story to tell," went on Ralph.

"Yes? Then let me hear it at once. I will be at leisure for the next hour."

It was rather awkward for Ralph to start, but it was not long before he was
deep in the recital of his adventures and the great wrong that had been
done to him. Horace Kelsey listened with scarcely a word of comment until
he finished.

"Well, Ralph, if I did not know you to be an honest boy, I would not
believe it," he exclaimed, at last.

"I can hardly believe it myself, Mr. Kelsey. Why did those two men attack
me?"

"It is a great mystery. Had you not met them after the fall over the bluff
I would be inclined to say that that fall must have been accidental. But,
as it is, it was premeditated, beyond a doubt. And you are certain that you
never met the men before?"