hed," said Dick's patron.

"I tell you I haven't got it."

"Shall I send for a police officer, Mr. Hatch, or will you allow
yourself to be searched quietly?" said the merchant.

Alarmed at the threat implied in these words, the clerk put his hand
into his vest-pocket, and drew out a two-dollar bill on the
Merchants' Bank.

"Is this your note?" asked the shopkeeper, showing it to the
young man.

"It is."

"I must have made a mistake," faltered the clerk.

"I shall not give you a chance to make such another mistake in my
employ," said the merchant sternly. "You may go up to the desk and
ask for what wages are due you. I shall have no further occasion for
your services."

"Now, youngster," said Dick's patron, as they went out of the store,
after he had finally got the bill changed. "I must pay you something
extra for your trouble. Here's fifty cents."

"Thank you, sir," said Dick. "You're very kind. Don't you want some
more bills changed?"

"Not to-day," said he with a smile. "It's too expensive."

"I'm in luck," thought our hero complacently. "I guess I'll go to
Barnum's to-night, and see the bearded lady, the eight-foot giant,
the two-foot dwarf, and the other curiosities, too numerous to
mention."

Dick shouldered his box and walked up as far as the Astor House. He
took his station on the sidewalk, and began to look about him.

Just behind him were two persons,--one, a gentleman of fifty; the
other, a boy of thirteen or fourteen. They were speaking together,
and Dick had no difficulty in hearing what was said.

"I am sorry, Frank, that I can't go about, and show you some of the
sights of New York, but I shall be full of business to-day. It is
your first visit to the city, too."

"Yes, sir."

"There's a good deal worth seeing here. But I'm afraid you'll have
to wait to next time. You can go out and walk by yourself, but don't
venture too far, or you will get lost."

Frank looked disappointed.

"I wish Tom Miles knew I was here," he said. "He would go around
with me."

"Where does he live?"

"Somewhere up town, I believe."

"Then, unfortunately, he is not available. If you would rather go
with me than stay here, you can, but as I shall be most of the time
in merchants'-counting-rooms, I am afraid it would not be very
interesting."

"I think," said Frank, after a little hesitation, "that I will go
off by myself. I won't go very far, and if I lose my way, I will
inquire for the Astor House."