lp if you understand how to get around."

At a nearby bookseller's Ralph purchased a guide-book for twenty-five
cents. He studied it off and on the entire afternoon, walking around in the
meantime. Before he retired that night at the hotel, he had taken in the
city from Fourteenth street down to the Battery.

"It's awful big and crooked," he thought. "But I guess I'll manage to get
around, especially if I keep the guide-book on hand for reference."

His first duty in the morning, even before he had breakfast, was to go to
the post office. Of course, he found no letter there for him. He inquired
at the information office about the Westville mail, and ascertained that
the next pouch from that place would be ready for delivery about three
o'clock in the afternoon.

"I'll wait for that," he thought. "And then, if there is no word, I'll take
the first train home."

To tell the truth, Ralph was growing anxious. The more he thought over the
matter, the more he became convinced that he had done wrong in not
returning home at once. He was willing to admit that the sight of the great
metropolis had proven too much for his better judgment.

When Ralph left the post office building he did not know that he was being
followed, yet such was a fact. Martin, who had got into the city but a
short while before, had been watching for him, knowing that he would most
likely call for mail. The man slunk out of sight when Ralph appeared, and
when he went out, dogged him through the crowd like a shadow.

Ralph returned from the post office across Park Row, and from there made
his way toward the East Side, as the great tenement district of New York is
termed. He had not been through this section very much, and thought to make
a tour along the East River.

Martin followed him for a distance of eight or ten blocks. Just as Ralph
was about to go past a coal yard he tapped the boy on the shoulder.

Ralph turned quickly, and was almost dumbfounded to see who it was that had
accosted him.

"What, you!" he exclaimed.

"Then I am really right!" cried Martin, reaching forth and grasping his
hand. "Thank heaven that you are safe!"

"Why, I don't understand," stammered Ralph.

He could not comprehend the other's manner.

"I was afraid you had been killed on the cars," went on Martin. "I am very
glad to see that you escaped."

"Indeed! I thought you wished me dead," said Ralph, coldly.

"Dead! No, indeed, my young friend!"

"But you push