imself, and I'm going to see the
Capitol. I couldn't have done that in Crofield. And I'll be in New
York City to-morrow!"

CHAPTER X.

THE STATE-HOUSE AND THE STEAMBOAT.

Mary Ogden had three dresses, one quite pretty, but none were of silk.
Aunt Melinda was always telling Mary what she ought not to wear at her
age, and with hair and eyes as dark as hers. Mary felt very proud,
therefore, when she saw on the table in her room the parcel containing
the black silk and trimmings.

"It must have been expensive," she said, and she unfolded it as if
afraid it would break.

"What will mother say?" she thought. "And Aunt Melinda! I'm too young
for it--I know I am!"

The whole Murdoch family arose early, and the editor, after looking at
the black silk, said that he felt pretty well.

"So you ought," said his wife. "You had more new subscribers yesterday
than you ever had before in your life in any one day."

"That makes me think," said Mr. Murdoch. "I owe Mary Ogden five
dollars--there it is--for getting out that number of the _Eagle_."

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Mary. "I did that, and Jack did it, only because--"

He put the bank-note into her hand.

"I'd rather you'd take it," he said. "You'll never be a good editor
till you learn to work on a business basis."

As he insisted, she put the bill into her pocket-book, thanking him
gratefully.

"I had two dollars when I came," she thought, "and I haven't spent a
cent; but I may need something. Besides, I'll have to pay for making
up my new dress."

But she was wrong. Mrs. Murdoch went out to see a neighbor after
breakfast, and before noon it was certain that if seven old men of
Mertonville had paid for the silk, at least seven elderly women could
be found who were very willing to make it up.

About that time Jack was walking up to the door of the Senate Chamber,
in the Capitol, at Albany, after having astonished himself by long
walks and gazings through the halls and side passages.

"It's true enough," he said to himself. "The Governor's right. No
fellow could go through this and come out just as he came in."

He understood about the "twenty tons of pure gold" in the building, but
nevertheless he could not keep from looking all around after signs of
it.

"There's plenty of gilding," he said, "but it's very thin. It's all
finished, too. I don't see what more they could do, now the roof's on
and it's all painted. He must have been joking when h