ights."

After a midday luncheon Ned and Jimmie started out to look over the
place. They were now in what is known as the general city, where the
streets are from 140 to 200 feet wide. The thoroughfares are mostly
unpaved, and the shops which line them are continuous, some green, some
blue, some red, but all bustling with business.

The shops in this section of Peking are decorated with huge, staring
signs, resplendent with Chinese characters highly gilt. Before the boys
had traveled far they were forcibly reminded of the lower East Side of
New York. The great thoroughfares roared with the rush of commerce.

Shopkeepers, peddlers, mountebanks, quack doctors, pedestrians rushing
to and fro, all reminded the lads of the lower part of the big city on
Manhattan island. The theaters and public places of amusement are
situated in this part of Peking.

When Ned and Jimmie returned from the stroll they found Frank and Jack
waiting for them with anxiety depicted on their faces.

"What have you been doing?" Frank asked. "I thought you came here to
interview the American ambassador."

"All in good time," Ned replied, with a smile. "I want to pick up the
American shoe print before I present my letter to the ambassador."

"Fine show you stand of picking up a shoe print in a crowd like that one
out there!" Jack said. "It's worse than Coney Island on a midsummer
Sunday."

"Perhaps I didn't use the right words," smiled Ned. "I might have said
I was waiting for the American shoe man to pick me up."

"He's done that now, all right," Captain Martin said. "You had not been
out of the house five minutes before the spies were thick as flies in
the old Eighth ward. They are all about us now. Watch and see if we
are ever alone."

Ned glanced about carelessly and nudged Frank with his elbow.

"That waiter?" he asked. "How long has he been loitering about the
room?"

"Ever since we arrived. The men who have been entertaining us on the
way were evidently waiting for us."

The boys were not in a private room, but in a public apartment where
there were tables and refreshments.

"But that chap belongs here," Ned replied.

"Well, if you watch him, you will see that he is attending strictly to
the wants of this party. If we call he'll wait on us. If any one else
calls, another waiter glides over to him. Nice to be so exclusive,
isn't it?"

"If you are right," Ned said, "it is time for us to move on."

"To the emba