there three years, so I
told my uncle I would come to New York and see if I couldn't get work."

"I hope you may succeed," said Hector, for he would not allow his
dislikes to carry him too far. He felt that there was room in the world
for Jim and himself, too.

"Are you going to work?" asked Jim.

"I hope so."

"Got anything in view?"

"Not exactly.'"

"It would be a good thing if we could get into the same place."

"Do you say that because we have always agreed so well?" asked Hector,
amused.

"We may be better friends in future," said Jim, with a grin.

Hector was judiciously silent.

"Where are you staying?"

"Up on Forty-second Street."

"That's a good way uptown, isn't it?"

"Yes, pretty far up."

"Are you boarding?"

"No; I am visiting some friends."

"Couldn't you get me in there as one of your school friends?"

This question indicated such an amount of assurance on the part of his
old enemy that at first Hector did not know how to reply in fitting
terms.

"I couldn't take such a liberty with my friends," he said. "Besides, it
doesn't strike me that we were on very intimate terms."

But Jim was not sensitive to a rebuff.

"The fact is," he continued, "I haven't got much money, and it would
be very convenient to visit somebody. Perhaps you could lend me five
dollars?"

"I don't think I could. I think I shall have to say good-morning."

"I can't make anything out of him," said Jim to himself,
philosophically. "I wonder if he's got any money. Uncle Socrates told me
his uncle had cast him off."

Going up Broadway instead of down, it was not long before Jim met Allan
Roscoe and Guy, whom he immediately recognized. Not being troubled with
immodesty, he at once walked up to Mr. Roscoe and held out his hand.

"Good-morning, Mr. Roscoe!" he said, in an ingratiating voice.

"Good-morning, young man. Where have I met you?" asked Allan Roscoe,
puzzled.

"At Smith Institute. I am the nephew of Mr. Smith."

"What! Not the nephew who--"

Mr. Roscoe found it hard to finish the sentence. He didn't like to
charge Jim with stealing to his face.

"I know what you mean," said Jim, boldly. "I am the one whom your nephew
charged with taking money which he took himself. I don't want to
say anything against him, as he is your nephew, but he is an artful
young--but no matter. You are his uncle."

"He is not my nephew, but was only cared for by my brother," said Allan
Roscoe. "You may tell me freel