ent.

"Yes."

"Where is it?"

"In the office of a new paper."

"What is it?"

"_The Phoenix_, a comic paper just started."

"Where is the office?"

"In Nassau Street."

"Then why are you not there?"

"I don't have to be there all the time."

"Do you get good pay?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"I get more than I did at the real estate office."

"You don't say!"

"Yes. I was in luck."

"Do you get six dollars?"

"More. I don't care to tell you just how much I get."

"By the way, there was an old man in the office yesterday inquiring
after you."

"Did he give his name?"

"Yes. He said his name was Silas Tripp."

"What on earth brought Mr. Tripp to New York?" Chester asked himself.

This question will be answered in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A STRANGER IN NEW YORK.

It was not often that Silas Tripp went to New York. The expense was a
consideration, and again he found it difficult to leave his business.
But he had received a circular from an investment company in Wall
Street, offering ten per cent. interest for any money he might have to
invest. High interest always attracts men who love money, and it so
happened that Silas had five hundred dollars invested. The difference
between six and ten per cent. interest on this sum would make twenty
dollars annually, besides a contingent share in extra profits promised
in the circular, and on the whole he thought it would pay him to make
the journey.

He went at once to the office of Messrs. Gripp & Co., on his arrival in
the city. He found the financial agents occupying handsome offices,
well furnished and covered with a thick Turkey carpet. Everything
betokened prosperity, and Mr. Tripp was dazzled. The result was that he
made the investment and laid away in his old-fashioned wallet five new
bonds, assuring a dividend of ten per cent.

"I calc'late it's safe," he said to Mr. Gripp, a stout man with a
florid face, expensively dressed and sporting a large and showy diamond
ring.

"Assuredly, my dear sir," said Gripp, with suavity. "I congratulate
you, Mr. Tripp, on making an unusually profitable investment. I venture
to say that within the year, besides the regular dividend, there will
be an extra dividend of five per cent., making fifteen per cent. in
all. It is a pity you had not more invested."

"Mebby I'll bring you in some more bimeby," said Mr. Tripp, cautiously.

"I trust you will, for your own sake. To us it is not importa