e air that distinguishes a
town-bred boy. His companion evidently understood boy nature, for Tom
was much flattered by the supposition that he was a city boy.

"No," he answered, almost as if apologizing for a discreditable fact;
"I am from the country."

"You don't say so!" exclaimed the other, in apparent surprise. "I
thought, from your appearance, that you were from the city. How do you
go from Pittsburg?"

"By river to Cincinnati."

"Do you really? I am glad to hear it; I am going there myself. We shall
be fellow passengers. That will be pleasant."

Tom thought it would. His companion seemed very pleasant and social, and
he had been feeling lonely, as was only natural.

"Yes, it will," he said.

"By the way, as we may be thrown together, more or less, we ought to
know each other. My name is Milton Graham. My father is a rich merchant
in New York. I am traveling partly on business for my father's firm, and
partly for pleasure."

"My name is Thomas Nelson; most people call me Tom," said our hero.

"Then I will call you Tom," said Graham. "I like the name. I have a
favorite cousin named Tom. Poor boy!--he is an orphan. His father died
two years ago, leaving him two hundred thousand dollars. My father is
his guardian. He is about your age; only not quite so good-looking."

Tom blushed. He had not thought much of his own looks, but he was human,
and no one is displeased at being considered good-looking. Mr. Graham
spoke meditatively, as if he was not intending to pay a compliment, only
mentioning a fact, and Tom did not feel called upon to thank him for
this flattering remark.

"That is a great deal of money," he said.

"Yes, it is. All my relations are rich; that is, except one uncle, who
probably is not worth over twenty thousand dollars."

Tom was impressed. A man who could talk of such a sum in such terms must
certainly be very rich.

"Do you know, Mr. Graham," he inquired, "how soon the steamer will start
after we reach Pittsburg?"

"No; but I can find out after we reach there."

On arriving at Pittsburg, inquiry was made, and it was ascertained that
the steamer _River Belle_ would leave at nine o'clock the following
morning.

"We shall have to go to a hotel," said Graham.

"Is there any cheap hotel here?" asked Tom prudently.

"Yes; there is the Pittsburg House. Suppose we both go there."

"All right."

Mr. Graham had only a small carpetbag, smaller than Tom's. They took
them in their ha