"Yes; he asked where I was staying."

"I hope you didn't tell him."

"I only said I was at a boarding house on West Fourteenth Street, but
didn't mention the number."

"He thinks you have the casket with you, and that he may get possession
of it. It is well that you stored it at Tiffany's."

"I think so. Now I have no anxiety about it. Do you think he will find
out where we live?"

"Probably, as you gave him a clew. But, Rodney, it is about lunch time,
and I confess I have an appetite. Come and lunch with me."

"But I am afraid, Mr. Woods, I shall not be able to return the
compliment."

"There is no occasion for it. I feel in good humor this morning. I have
sold one lot, and have hopes of disposing of another. The one lot pays
me a commission of twenty dollars."

"I wish I could make twenty dollars in a week."

"Sometimes I only sell one lot in a week. It isn't like a regular
business. It is precarious. Still, take the year through and I make a
pretty good income. Come in here. We can get a good lunch here," and he
led the way into a modest restaurant, not far from the site of the old
post office, which will be remembered by those whose residence in New
York dates back twenty years or more.

"Now we will have a nice lunch," said the agent. "I hope you can do
justice to it."

"I generally can," responded Rodney, smiling. "I am seldom troubled with
a poor appetite."

"Ditto for me. Now what have you been doing this morning?"

"Looking for a place."

"With what success?"

"Pretty good if I had only been earlier."

Rodney told the story of his application to the manager of the railroad
office.

"You will know better next time. I think you'll succeed. I did. When I
came to New York at the age of twenty two I had only fifty dollars. That
small sum had to last me twelve weeks. You can judge that I didn't
live on the fat of the land during that time. I couldn't often eat at
Delmonico's. Even Beefsteak John's would have been too expensive for me.
However, those old days are over."

The next day and the two following Rodney went about the city making
application for positions, but every place seemed full.

On the third day Mr. Woods said, "I shall have to leave you for a week
or more, Rodney."

"Where are you going?"

"To Philadelphia. There's a man there who is a capitalist and likes land
investments. I am going to visit him, and hope to sell him several lots.
He once lived in this city, so he won