arclay, of Pentonville."

"Yes, but----"

"Don't you remember Jim Fisher, who passed part of the summer, two
years since, in your village?"

"Where were you staying?" asked Ben.

It was the other's turn to looked confused.

"At--the Smiths'," he answered, at random.

"At Mrs. Roxana Smith's?" suggested Ben.

"Yes, yes," said the other eagerly, "she is my aunt."

"Is she?" asked Ben, with a smile of amusement, for he had by this
time made up his mind as to the character of his new friend. "She
must be proud of her stylish nephew. Mrs. Smith is a poor widow, and
takes in washing."

"It's some other Smith," said the young man, discomfited.

"She is the only one by that name in Pentonville."

Jim Fisher, as he called himself, turned upon his heel and left Ben
without a word. It was clear that nothing could be made out of him.

Ben walked all the way up Broadway, as far as Twenty-first Street,
into which he turned, and walked eastward until he reached Gramercy
Park, opposite which Lexington Avenue starts. In due time he reached
the house of Mr. Absalom Peters, and, ascending the steps, he rang the
bell.

"Is Mr. Peters in?" he asked of the servant who answered the bell.

"No."

"Will he be in soon?"

"I guess not. He sailed for Europe last week."

Ben's heart sank within him. He had hoped much from Mr. Peters,
before whom he meant to lay all the facts of his mother's situation.
Now that hope was crushed.

He turned and slowly descended the steps.

"There goes our last chance of saving the house," he said to himself
sadly.

CHAPTER XI
THE MADISON AVENUE STAGE

Ben was naturally hopeful, but he had counted more than he was aware
on the chance of obtaining assistance from Absalom Peters toward
paying off his mother's mortgage. As Mr. Peters was in Europe nothing
could be done, and them seemed absolutely no one else to apply to.
They had friends, of course, and warm ones, in Pentonville, but none
that were able to help them.

"I suppose we must make up our minds to lose the house," thought Ben.
"Squire Davenport is selfish and grasping, and there is little chance
of turning him."

He walked westward till he reached Madison Avenue. A stage
approached, being bound downtown, and, feeling tired, he got in. The
fare was but five cents, and he was willing to pay it.

Some half dozen other passengers beside himself were in the stage.
Opposite Ben sat a handsomely dressed, somewhat port