s great a proportion as you
already have done."

After Mr. Weston had explained to them several details of business
which it was necessary they should know, he went back to the hotel,
taking Paul with him, but promising that he should come back and help
them keep store all the next day, since it would be the last he would
be in New York for some time.

Neither of the boys thought of going home for anything to eat until it
should be time for them to close the store, and in the evening Mrs.
Green and Nelly called upon them to say that they had purposely
delayed dinner until they could be there, when it would be made a sort
of thanksgiving meal. As a matter of course, they were as much
delighted with the store as any of the other visitors had been, and
Mrs. Green took advantage of the occasion to point out to Mopsey what
the difference might have been if he had refused to help a companion
in distress, as he apparently had been on the point of doing when he
was appealed to for his share of the money with which to buy the
ticket.

Since there was quite a trade in daily papers at the new store, and it
would be inconvenient for the two boys to buy and deliver their papers
and attend to the store at the same time, they made a trade with
Dickey, whereby he should become a partner to the extent of one-third
of the profits--thereby making him quite as happy as they were, which
was more happy than can be described by words.

Very proud were the three partners as they locked the store that
night, and, with the keys in their pockets, walked home with Mrs.
Green and Nelly, surrounded by quite a numerous escort of their
particular and intimate friends. And as they passed the different
stores into which they had hardly dared to enter even when they were
pursuing their legitimate business, they seemed suddenly to have
degenerated into very shabby affairs since they had one of their own
which was so beautiful.

Of the meal which followed Mrs. Green had made quite a feast, in order
to celebrate the good-fortune which had come to two of her boarders. A
cold boiled ham with smoking hot potatoes, followed by pies and fruit,
made up a dinner that would have been thought fit for a king, had it
not been for the remembrance of the "swell affair" at Coney Island.
All were in the best of spirits save Mopsey; and when Dickey asked the
cause of his apparent trouble, it was learned that the present of the
store was a severe blow to him, since i