I do sewing and mending for my neighbors--principally mending for the
girls who work in the stores."

"And can you make much that way?"

"Not a great deal. But I try to make enough to pay the rent and store
bills. May I ask what you are going to do in New York?"

"I came to find a real estate dealer named Alexander Slocum. I want to see
him about some property left by my uncle to my father. Have you ever heard
of him?"

"Heard of him?" she cried in surprise. "He is my landlord."

Jerry was dumfounded by this unexpected bit of information.

"You are certain?"

"Why, of course I am. He was around to see me only day before yesterday
about the rent. I am a bit behind, and I had to put him off."

"And what kind of a man is he?"

"I think he is very hard-hearted. But then, that may be because I am
behind in my payment. He threatened to put me out of my rooms if I didn't
pay when he called again."

"How many rooms have you?"

"Only two, and I pay six dollars a month for them."

"And how far behind are you?"

"I only owe for the month."

"And he won't trust you even that long? He certainly must be mean," Jerry
rejoined warmly.

"You said something about property belonging to your father," said Nellie
Ardell. "Has Mr. Slocum an interest in it?"

"He has and he hasn't," the boy replied, and he told his story in a few
words as they walked along to the entrance of the house in which she
lived.

"Well, I trust you get your right, Jerry Upton," said the girl. "Come and
see me some time."

"I will," and after Jerry had procured Alexander Slocum's office address
from her, the pair separated.

Jerry was very thoughtful as he proceeded on his way. By a turn of fortune
he had gotten on Slocum's track much quicker than expected. The question
was, how should he best approach the man?

"I'll settle that after I have procured a boarding place," he thought, and
hurried to the address given him.

Mrs. Price, the landlady, was a very nice old person. She had a top room
in the back she said she would let with board, for five dollars a week,
and Jerry closed with her without delay, paying for one week in advance.

This finished, our hero found he was hungry, and after a washing-up, ate
supper with a relish. He could not help but notice that the vegetables and
milk served were not as fresh as those at home, but remembered he was now
in the city and not on a farm, and did not complain.

Mrs. Price had taken in another n