, and cheerfully bore
the discomfort for the sake of alleviating the misfortune which might
some day come upon themselves.

"Where shall we go, mother?" asked Jimmy anxiously.

Mrs. Hoffman looked doubtfully at Paul.

"I suppose we must seek shelter somewhere," she said.

"How will the Fifth Avenue Hotel suit you?" asked Paul.

"I think I will wait till my new dress is finished," she said, smiling
faintly.

"Why, what's the matter, Paul? You're not burnt out, are you?"

Turning at the voice, Paul recognized Sam Norton, a newsboy, who sold
papers near his own stand.

"Just about so, Sam," he answered. "We're turned into the street."

"And where are you going to stop over night?"

"That's more than I know. Mother here isn't sure whether she prefers
the St Nicholas or Fifth Avenue."

"Paul likes to joke at my expense," said Mrs. Hoffman.

"Come over and stop with us to-night," said Sam. "My mother'll be glad
to have you."

"Thank you, Sam," said Mrs. Hoffman, who knew the boy as a friend of
Paul, "but I shouldn't like to trouble your mother."

"It'll be no trouble," said Sam eagerly.

"If you think it won't, Sam," said Paul, "we'll accept for to-night. I
am afraid they wouldn't take us in at any of the big hotels with only
one dress, and that not made up, by way of baggage. To-morrow I'll
find some other rooms."

"Come along, then," said Sam, leading the way. "We'll have a jolly
time to-night, Paul."

"By way of celebrating the fire. It's jolly enough for us, but I
shouldn't like it too often."

"I say, Paul," said Sam, wheeling round, "if you're out of stamps,
I've got a dollar or two that I can spare."

"Thank you, Sam; you're a brick! But I've saved my bank-book, and I've
got plenty to start on. Much obliged to you, all the same."

It was true that Paul was in an unusually good position to withstand
the blow which had so unexpectedly fallen upon him. He had a hundred
and fifty dollars in the hands of Mr. Preston, a wealthy gentleman who
took an interest in him, and moreover had a hundred dollars deposited
to his credit in a savings-bank, beside his stock in trade, probably
amounting to at least fifty dollars, at the wholesale price. So there
was no immediate reason for anxiety. It would have been rather
awkward, however, to look up a shelter for the night at such short
notice, and therefore Sam Norton's invitation was particularly
welcome.

Sam led the way to the lodgings occupied by his pare