CHAPTER XVI.

SAM LOSES HIS PLACE.

"Mr. Dalton wants you to go to the bank, and make a deposit," said
William Budd, to Sam, on the forenoon of the same day.

"All right," said Sam.

"Be particularly careful, as the deposit is unusually large."

"Oh, yes, I'll be careful."

Sam received the checks and drafts, amounting to several thousand
dollars, and started for the Fourth National Bank, on Nassau Street.
When he had accomplished a part of the distance, he met an old
acquaintance, whom he had known in his boot-blacking days.

"How are you, Sam?" said Tim Brady. "I haven't seen you for a long
time."

"I'm all right, Tim. I haven't seen you, either. Where have you
been?"

"To Boston," answered Tim, briefly.

"You have!" exclaimed Sam, interested. "How did you like it?"

"I don't like it as well as York."

"Why not? Ain't it a nice place?"

"'Tisn't half as big as York. Besides, there ain't half so much fun.
There ain't no Old Bowery there, nor Tony Pastor's. I didn't know what
to do with myself nights."

"What were you doing? Did you black boots?"

"No," answered Tim. "I was in a store on Dock Square."

"What sort of a store?"

"Clothing store."

"How did you get the place?"

"It is kept by a cousin of the old woman. He wrote that he'd take me
if I'd come on. So I went; but I didn't like it."

"Where did you live?"

"With him. He had a house in Chelsea, just over the river, like
Brooklyn is. I got my board and a dollar a week."

"That ain't much," said Sam.

"No, I should say not. I had to pay my way over the ferry out of it,
too. It didn't leave me no money for cigars nor nothing."

"How long were you there?"

"About three months. I would not have stayed so long, only I couldn't
get money to get back."

"You got it at last; or did you walk back?"

"Walk? I guess not. It's three or four hundred miles."

This was not quite exact, but near enough for a guess.

"How much did it cost you to come back?"

"Five dollars."

"That's a good deal. Where did you get so much?"

"I found it in the street one day," answered Tim, with a little
hesitation.

"How long have you been back?"

"About a week. I've been looking round for you. Where do you hang
out?"

"I've got a room of my own," answered Sam, with an air of importance.

"You have! You're in luck. What are you doin'?"

"I've got a place with Dalton & Co., on Pearl Street."

"What business?

"Merchant. He's awful rich. Just l