n; "but your information was
valuable to me."

"Thank you," said Jack, after he had in vain refused the money.

"You've done enough," said Mr. Gifford; "this will do for your first
day. Eight o'clock in the morning, remember. Good-night!"

"I'm glad I belong here," Jack said to himself. "If I'd had my pick of
the city I would have chosen this very store. Ten dollars! I can pay
Mr. Keifelheimer now, and I sha'n't have to starve to death."

Jack felt so prosperous that he walked only to the nearest station of
the elevated railway, and cheerfully paid five cents for a ride up-town.

When the Hotel Dantzic was reached, it seemed a much more cheerful and
home-like building than it had appeared when he left it in the morning;
and Jack had now no notion of dodging Mr. Keifelheimer. There he stood
on the doorstep, looking stern and dignified. He was almost too polite
when Jack said:

"Good-evening, Mr. Keifelheimer."

"Goot-efening," he replied, with a bow. "I hope you gets along vell
mit your beezness?"

"Pretty well," said Jack cheerfully.

"Vere vas you feexed?" asked Mr. Keifelheimer, doubtfully.

Jack held out one of the business cards of Gifford & Company, and
replied:

"That's where I am. I guess I'll pay for my room here till the end of
this week, and then I'll find a place farther down town."

"I vas so sorry dey peek your pocket," said Mr. Keifelheimer, looking
at the card. "Tell you vat, Mr. Ogden, you take supper mit me. It
cost you not'ing. I haf to talk some mit you."

[Illustration: _Jack dines with Mr. Keifelheimer_.]

"All right," said Jack. "I'll pay up at the desk, and then I'll get
ready for dinner."

When he came down Mr. Keifelheimer was waiting for him, very smiling,
but not nearly so polite and dignified. Hardly were they seated at the
supper-table, before the proprietor coughed twice affectedly, and then
remarked:

"You not leaf de Hotel Dantzic, Mr. Ogden. I use up pounds and boxes
of tea und sugar und coffee, und all dose sometings dey sell at Gifford
und Company's. You get me de best prices mit dem, und you safe me a
great heap of money. I get schwindled, schwindled, all de times! You
vas keep your room, und you pays for vat you eats. De room is a goot
room, but it shall cost you not vun cent. So? If I find you safe me
money, I go on mit you."

"I'll do my best," said Jack. "Let me know what you're paying now."

"Ve go all ofer de leest after ve eat someti