harge for such service.

"I'll ask one of the other fellows," he said to himself, and then the
rush of business was so great that he almost forgot the incident of the
morning.

Until two o'clock in the afternoon he was busily engaged, and at that
hour returned after having been to the post-office to mail a large lot
of circulars sent by a particularly testy and disagreeable old
gentleman.

"You needn't sit down," the manager said sharply, as the boy laid the
service slip on the desk. "Go with this man and see to it that you
tell the whole truth."

Jet looked in surprise at a gentlemanly appearing person who was
pointed out to him, standing near the door, and asked hesitatingly:

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Exactly what I said. Don't keep him waiting, and come back here at
once if they let you go to-day."

This last remark was yet more mysterious than the first, but Jet did
not have an opportunity to ask any more questions, for at this instant
the stranger took him by the arm, saying as he did so:

"Now walk sharp. I've lost too much time already."

There was no other alternative but to obey, for the man literally
dragged him through the crowds on the sidewalks, and continued on at a
rapid pace until the two were at the entrance of Police Headquarters.

"What am I to go in there for?" Jet asked, as he tried to hold back.

"The inspector wants to see you," the man replied, and the boy ceased
any show of resistance, for he began to realize that he was a prisoner,
although on what charge he could not so much as guess.

Ten minutes later he was standing in front of the inspector, and that
gentleman was gazing at him scrutinizingly.

"What is your name?" he asked abruptly, and when the answer had been
given be continued by inquiring into all the particulars of his short
life, until Jet cried in desperation:

"What do you think I have done, sir?"

"That remains to be seen," was the unsatisfactory reply, as, after
writing down all the boy had said, the inspector summoned a man in the
garb of an ordinary citizen, to whom he handed the paper as he said in
a low tone: "Find out if this is correct, and come back at once."

Then turning to Jet:

"How long have you been a district messenger?"

"Two days."

"What time in the morning do you go on duty?"

"Seven o'clock."

"What was the first call you had to-day?"

"To No. -- East Fourteenth Street."

"Tell me all that happened there, and remember If you