ut a pull in New York can't do nuthin' nohow,"
and the bootblack gave an extra dash with his brush to emphasize his
remarks.

"I haven't been able to see my friend yet. He is out of town."

"Say, maybe yer kin put in a word fer me."

"What is your name?"

"Mickety."

"Mickety? Mickety what?"

"Me udder name is Powers, but da all calls me just Mickety."

"And where do you live, Mickety?"

"Over in Cherry street, wid me old gran'mudder. She can't work, an' I have
ter keep t'ings goin'."

"You have to support her, you mean?"

"Dat's it. She's most blind, Gran'ma Sal is."

"It's a good deal on your shoulders," said Ralph, and his respect for the
dirty little chap before him increased.

"Dat's why I want ter strike anudder job."

"Well, if I hear of any opening, I'll let you know. Where can I see you?"

"I'm around here most all day, boss, an' t'ank yer fer sayin' you'll look
out fer me."

The shoes were now blacked, and Mickety arose to his feet. Ralph brought
out a quarter and handed it over.

"Keep it all, Mickety," he said. "I am sorry I can't spare more just now."

"Gee! A quarter! Yer a liberal gent, so yer are! T'ank yer, sir!"

"You are quite welcome," returned Ralph, and he walked off.

He was destined to meet the bootblack again, and under circumstances full
of the gravest peril.

CHAPTER XXXI.

ON THE BOWERY.

After leaving the bootblack Ralph hardly knew what to do with himself. It
was barely three o'clock, and he fancied it still too early to visit Horace
Kelsey's office again.

He concluded to walk around and see the sights, and accordingly strolled up
Broadway past the City Hall Park, and continued on up until Fourteenth
street was reached.

This great thoroughfare, with its immense stores, interested him greatly.
He spent fully half an hour in looking into the show-windows.

"What a lot of money must be invested in business here," he thought. "How I
would like to be a merchant on such a scale. A person who had never been
here would not imagine it was so grand!"

When a neighboring clock showed the hour of four the boy thought it time to
return to the insurance agent's office. He was soon on his way downtown.

At the entrance to the office, a policeman tapped him on the shoulder. It
was the one he had met earlier in the day.

"Hallo, young fellow," he said. "Did you get your money back?"

"Yes, I got my money, and a trifle more," returned Ralph. "Did you catch
the