oon after let to
a more creditable tenant who proved a less troublesome neighbor than
his predecessor.

CHAPTER XXIV

DICK RECEIVES A LETTER

It was about a week after Dick's recovery of his bank-book, that
Fosdick brought home with him in the evening a copy of the "Daily
Sun."

"Would you like to see your name in print, Dick?" he asked.

"Yes," said Dick, who was busy at the wash-stand, endeavoring to
efface the marks which his day's work had left upon his hands. "They
haven't put me up for mayor, have they? 'Cause if they have, I
shan't accept. It would interfere too much with my private business."

"No," said Fosdick, "they haven't put you up for office yet, though
that may happen sometime. But if you want to see your name in print,
here it is."

Dick was rather incredulous, but, having dried his hands on the
towel, took the paper, and following the directions of Fosdick's
finger, observed in the list of advertised letters the name of
"RAGGED DICK."

"By gracious, so it is," said he. "Do you s'pose it means me?"

"I don't know of any other Ragged Dick,--do you?"

"No," said Dick, reflectively; "it must be me. But I don't know of
anybody that would be likely to write to me."

"Perhaps it is Frank Whitney," suggested Fosdick, after a little
reflection. "Didn't he promise to write to you?"

"Yes," said Dick, "and he wanted me to write to him."

"Where is he now?"

"He was going to a boarding-school in Connecticut, he said. The name
of the town was Barnton."

"Very likely the letter is from him."

"I hope it is. Frank was a tip-top boy, and he was the first that
made me ashamed of bein' so ignorant and dirty."

"You had better go to the post-office to-morrow morning, and ask for
the letter."

"P'r'aps they won't give it to me."

"Suppose you wear the old clothes you used to a year ago, when Frank
first saw you? They won't have any doubt of your being Ragged Dick
then."

"I guess I will. I'll be sort of ashamed to be seen in 'em though,"
said Dick, who had considerable more pride in a neat personal
appearance than when we were first introduced to him.

"It will be only for one day, or one morning," said Fosdick.

"I'd do more'n that for the sake of gettin' a letter from Frank. I'd
like to see him."

The next morning, in accordance with the suggestion of Fosdick, Dick
arrayed himself in the long disused Washington coat and Napoleon
pants, which he had carefully preserved, for what rea