s hungry, and did justice to the supper, which he found very good.
As they left the table, and reentered the office of the hotel, Milton
Graham said, "I am going to make a call on some friends. Sorry to leave
you, but we shall meet later in the evening."

"All right," said Tom.

On the whole he did not regret being alone. He began to doubt whether
Graham would make a desirable traveling companion. Tom felt the need of
economy, and he saw that his companion would make it difficult. If a fee
must be paid, it was fair to divide it; but the porter's fee had come
out of Tom's pocket.

"Didn't he have a quarter, I wonder?" thought our hero.

It was a small matter, but economy must begin in small matters, or it is
not likely to be practised at all.

He took the opportunity to go to the desk and ascertain the sum likely
to be charged for his accommodations.

"How long do you stay?" asked the clerk pleasantly.

"Till to-morrow morning. I am going to sail in the _River Belle_."

"Then we shall charge you a dollar and a half."

This seemed large to Tom, but he made no objection.

"How much would it have been if I had roomed alone?" he asked.

"The same. We make no change in our terms on that account."

"Mr. Graham told me it would be cheaper to room together."

"He is your roommate, isn't he?"

"Yes, sir."

"He is mistaken, so far as our house is concerned. I suppose you have
known him for some time."

"No, sir. I met him on the cars yesterday afternoon for the first time."

"Then you don't know anything about him?"

"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "He is the son of a rich merchant in New York."

"Who told you that?"

"He did."

The clerk was a man of middle age. At home he had a son of Tom's age,
and this led him to feel a friendly interest in our hero.

"I suppose you have never traveled much," he said.

"No, sir. This is my first journey."

"Are you going far?"

"To California."

"That is a long journey for a boy of your age," said the clerk, looking
surprised.

"Yes, sir; but I can't get anything to do at home, and I am going to
California to seek my fortune."

"I hope you will be successful," said the clerk, with hearty sympathy.
"Will you let me give you a piece of advice?"

"I shall be very glad of it, sir," responded Tom. "I find I am quite
inexperienced."

"Then don't trust strangers too readily. It is dangerous."

"Do you refer to Mr. Graham?" asked Tom, startled.

"Yes, I refer to him,