h each other, and among these he found a grim sort of
enjoyment--of companionship, at least. Here, however, he was so utterly
alone as to be almost frightened, and the murmuring and moaning of the
surf on the beach near the hotel added to his loneliness a sense of
terror.

Almost overcome by dismal forebodings, Mr. Putchett hurried out of the
hotel and toward the beach. Once upon the sands, he felt better; the few
people who were there were strangers, of course, but they were women and
children; and if the expression of those who noticed him was wondering,
it was inoffensive--at times even pitying, and Mr. Putchett was in a
humor to gratefully accept even pity.

Soon the sun fell, and the people straggled toward their respective
boarding-houses, and Mr. Putchett, to fight off loneliness as long as
possible, rose from the bench on which he had been sitting and followed
the party up the beach.

He had supposed himself the last person that left the beach, but in a
moment or two he heard a childish voice shouting:

"Mister, mister! I guess you've lost something!"

Mr. Putchett turned quickly, and saw a little girl, six or seven years
of age, running toward him. In one hand she held a small pail and wooden
shovel, and in the other something bright, which was too large for her
little hand to cover.

She reached the broker's side, turned up a bright, healthy face, opened
her hand and displayed a watch, and said:

"It was right there on the bench where you were sitting. I couldn't
think what it was, it shone so."

Mr. Putchett at first looked suspiciously at the child, for he had at
one period of his life labored industriously in the business of dropping
bogus pocketbooks and watches, and obtaining rewards from persons
claiming to be their owners.

[Illustration: MR. PUTCHETT'S NEW FRIEND.]

Examining the watch which the child handed him, however, he recognized
it as one upon which he had lent twenty dollars earlier in the day.

First prudently replacing the watch in the pocket of his pantaloons, so
as to avoid any complication while settling with the finder, he handed
the child a quarter.

"Oh, no, thank you," said she, hastily; "mamma gives me money whenever I
need it."

The experienced operator immediately placed the fractional currency
where it might not tempt the child to change her mind. Then he studied
her face with considerable curiosity, and asked:

"Do you live here?"

"Oh, no," she replied; "we're