he claim relationship with me?" asked the young lady, looking
disgusted.

"No, Miss Ferguson, I don't claim it, though I believe it exists," said
Fred.

"A common train boy!" ejaculated the young lady. "This is altogether
too much. Raymond, let us go!"

As they left the station the other young lady passenger who had
listened eagerly to the conversation asked in a tone of almost painful
excitement, "Is that the daughter of Robert Ferguson?"

"Yes, do you know him?" asked Fred in surprise.

"To my sorrow. When my poor father died Mr. Ferguson was appointed
executor and trustee of his estate. It was not large, but we supposed
it would amount to ten thousand dollars, and perhaps more. Last week my
mother received a letter from him stating that he had satisfied all
claims against the estate, and that only seventy-five dollars was left.
This leaves us well-nigh penniless."

"Is it possible? Do you suspect that any fraud has been practised upon
you?"

"My mother feels sure of it, but what can we do? We are poor, and the
poor are always friendless," continued the girl bitterly.

"Have you come to New York to see Mr. Ferguson?"

"Yes; my mother wishes me to ask full particulars, and to appeal to him
to do us justice. I fear it will be of no avail, but it is the only
thing that we can do."

"Pardon me," said Fred, "but we had better be getting on board the
ferry-boat, or we shall have to wait till the next."

"Thank you! I hardly know what I am doing."

Fred accompanied the young lady to the ladies' cabin and sat down
beside her.

"Can I be of any service to you?" asked the train boy. "It is late for
a young lady to arrive in New York."

"I supposed we should reach the city at nine. That is what a neighbor
told me. I hardly know where to go," she added timidly. "Can you
recommend a cheap hotel or boarding-house?"

"There would be a difficulty about obtaining admission to either this
evening."

"Then what shall I do?" asked the girl, looking distressed.

"I think you had better come home with me for to-night. Our home is a
very humble one but mother will take good care of you. To-morrow you
can make other arrangements if you desire."

"Oh, how kind you are! I should like nothing better, if you really
think your mother would not be annoyed."

Fred smiled.

"She is too kind-hearted for that," he said. "Just wait till you see
her, and you won't feel any doubt."

"How fortunate I am to fall in with such a