was very attractive to him.

"If you ever hear of these rascals let me know," continued the hotel
proprietor.

"I will do so," was the reply.

With that the conversation on the subject closed. Maurice Vane remained
at the hotel overnight and left by the early train on the following
morning.

CHAPTER XIII.

OFF FOR THE CITY.

"Joe, our season ends next Saturday."

"I know it, Mr. Mallison."

"We are going to close the house on Tuesday. It won't pay to keep open
after our summer boarders leave."

"I know that, too."

"Have you any idea what you intend to do?" went on the hotel proprietor.
He was standing down by the dock watching Joe clean out one of the
boats.

"I'm thinking of going to Philadelphia."

"On a visit?"

"No, sir, to try my luck."

"Oh, I see. It's a big city, my lad."

"I know it, but, somehow, I feel I might do better there than in such a
town as this,--and I am getting tired of hanging around the lake."

"There is more money in Philadelphia than there is here, that is
certain, Joe. But you can't always get hold of it. The big cities are
crowded with people trying to obtain situations."

"I'm sure I can find something to do, Mr. Mallison. And, by the way,
when I leave, will you give me a written recommendation?"

"Certainly. You have done well since you came here. But you had better
think twice before going to Philadelphia."

"I've thought it over more than twice. I don't expect the earth, but I
feel that I can get something to do before my money runs out."

"How much money have you saved up?"

"I've got fifty-six dollars, and I'm going to sell my boat for four
dollars."

"Well, sixty dollars isn't such a bad capital. I have known men to start
out with a good deal less. When I left home I had but twenty dollars and
an extra suit of clothes."

"Did you come from a country place?"

"No, I came from New York. Times were hard and I couldn't get a single
thing to do. I went to Paterson, New Jersey, and got work in a silk
mill. From there I went to Camden, and then to Philadelphia. From
Philadelphia I came here and have been here ever since."

"You have been prosperous."

"Fairly so, although I don't make as much money as some of the hotel men
in the big cities. But then they take larger risks. A few years ago a
hotel friend of mine opened a big hotel in Atlantic City. He hoped to
make a small fortune, but he was not located in the right part of the
town and at the e