t a good deal to advertise all over the United States,"
replied Joe; "and for all I know he may be dead or out of the country."

Joe remained in Millville two days and then took the train back to the
East. Ned was the first to greet him on his return to Riverside.

"What luck?" he asked, anxiously.

"None whatever," was the sober answer.

"Oh, Joe, that's too bad!"

"I am afraid I am stumped, Ned."

They walked to the Talmadge mansion, and that evening talked the matter
over with Ned's father.

"I will arrange to have an advertisement inserted in a leading paper of
each of our big cities," said Mr. Talmadge. "That will cost something,
but not a fortune."

"You must let me pay for it," said our hero.

"No, Joe, you can put this down to Ned's credit--you two are such good
chums," and Mr. Talmadge smiled quietly.

The advertisements were sent out the following day, through an
advertising agent, and all waited for over two weeks for some reply, but
none came.

"It's no use," said Joe, and it must be admitted that he was much
downcast.

In the meantime he had seen Andrew Mallison and the hotel man said he
would willingly hire him for the summer as soon as the season opened,
and also give Frank Randolph a situation.

"You had better be my guest until that time," said Ned to our hero, when
he heard of this.

"Thank you, Ned, but I don't wish to remain idle so long."

The very next mail after this talk brought news for our hero. A letter
came from Maurice Vane, asking him if he wished to go to Montana.

"I am now certain that that mine is valuable," wrote the gentleman. "I
am going to start West next Monday. If you wish to go with me I will pay
your fare and allow you a salary of ten dollars per week to start on. I
think later on, I will have a good opening for you."

"That settles it, I am going West!" cried Joe, as he showed the letter
to his chum.

"Well, I don't blame you," was the reply. "I know just how nice it is
out there. You'll be sure to get along."

Before going to bed Joe wired his acceptance of the offer, and in the
morning received a telegram from Maurice Vane, asking him to go to
Chicago, to the Palmer House.

"That settles it, I'm off," said our hero, and bought a ticket for the
great city by the lakes without delay. Then he said good-bye to the
Talmadges and the Gussings, and boarded the train at sundown.

Joe was now getting used to traveling and no longer felt green and out
of pla