m the subject, I
will here relate a little incident that occurred on the day of Albert's
arrival in the city. It only goes to show how the average young man will
wriggle and tax his brain in order to get out of a tight box.

It often afforded us much amusement when narrating it, as being his
initiation into the great city of Chicago. He had written me in answer
to my letter, that he was ready to start at any time; and as I had
received an invitation to attend a ball to be given in the city on the
South Side on a certain day, I wrote him to be on hand at that time and
I would meet him.

By this time I had begun selling goods on credit, and very often run a
little short for cash; and it so happened that in this particular
instance I arrived in the city at seven o'clock in the evening, with
less than five dollars in my pocket with which to visit the barber, and
pay for our suppers and tickets for the ball.

He had written me that he would have about seventy-five dollars cash,
and I felt perfectly secure to start out with him, knowing I could
borrow till I could raise it the next day and pay him back.

At the ball we met a couple of young ladies, daughters of a gentleman I
had become acquainted with; and as he and his wife were talking of going
home early and taking the girls with them, we suggested that they leave
them in our care and we would escort them home later.

This was agreed to all around, and about two o'clock, when ready to
leave, I said to Albert:

"Let me have five dollars to pay for a carriage."

"I haven't got five dollars, nor even fifty cents."

"But you told me in your letter that you had seventy-five dollars."

"So I have, but it's in a draft."

"Well, what on earth are we to do? I have spent my last dollar. Guess
we'll have to take them home in a street-car."

We started, and reached the corner of Randolph and Clark just as it set
in to rain. Upon inquiry we learned to our dismay that all-night cars
were not running on Randolph street, and that none would be running
before daylight.

Just across the street, standing around the Court House as usual, were
any number of hack-men.

I was completely non-plussed, and I don't recollect ever having been
placed in closer quarters, or in a position where I felt more
humiliated. I thought of Albert's draft, and stepping up to him said in
a low tone as quickly as possible:

"Give me your draft and I'll get it cashed at the Sherman House."

He rep