understand it, for my part. Your mother must be a good
manager."

"Yes, Mr. Tripp, she is."

"You'd orter come back to work for me, Chester."

"But you have got a boy already."

"The Wood boy ain't worth shucks. He ain't got no push, and he's allus
forgettin' his errands. If you'll come next Monday I'll pay you two
dollars and a half a week. That's pooty good for these times."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Tripp, but I am going to work
somewhere else."

"Where?" asked Silas, in great surprise.

"In New York," answered Chester, proudly.

"You don't say! How'd you get it?"

"Mr. Conrad, an artist, a friend of the minister, got it for me."

"Is your mother willin' to have you go?"

"She will miss me, but she thinks it will be for my advantage."

"How's she goin' to live? It will take all you can earn to pay your own
way in a big city. In fact, I don't believe you can do it."

"I'll try, Mr. Tripp."

Chester did not care to mention the new boarder that was expected, as
he thought it probable that Mr. Tripp, who always looked out for his
own interests, would try to induce Miss Dolby to board with him. As Mr.
Tripp had the reputation of keeping a very poor table, he had never
succeeded in retaining a boarder over four weeks.

Chester found that his clothing needed replenishing, and ventured to
spend five dollars for small articles, such as handkerchiefs, socks,
etc. Saturday morning he walked to the depot with a small gripsack in
his hand and bought a ticket for New York.

CHAPTER X.

A RAILROAD ACQUAINTANCE.

The distance by rail from Wyncombe to New York is fifty miles. When
about eight years of age Chester had made the journey, but not since
then. Everything was new to him, and, of course, interesting. His
attention was drawn from the scenery by the passage of a train boy
through the cars with a bundle of new magazines and papers.

"Here is all the magazines, _Puck_ and _Judge_."

"How much do you charge for _Puck_?" asked Chester, with interest, for
it was _Puck_ that had accepted his first sketch.

"Ten cents."

"Give me one."

Chester took the paper and handed the train boy a dime.

Then he began to look over the pages. All at once he gave a start, his
face flushed, his heart beat with excitement. There was his sketch
looking much more attractive on the fair pages of the periodical than
it had done in his pencil drawing. He kept looking at it. It seemed to
have a fascination