satisfied with any such
retaliation. He wanted to make the boy suffer. He would hardly have
shrunk from taking his life. He was, in fact, a worse man than Jack
Morgan, for the latter was not naturally cruel, though, under
temptation, he might be led to desperate acts.

"Now tell me what you want to do, Julius," said Paul.

"I want to go out West."

"You are rather young to travel alone. Besides, you don't know
anything about the West, do you?"

Julius admitted that he did not. His education had been very much
neglected. He probably could not have named half a dozen States, and
had the vaguest idea of the West. He had heard it spoken of, and some
boys whom he used to know about the streets had gone out there. But
beyond that he knew nothing.

"How far do you think it is to the West?" asked Paul.

"About a hundred miles."

"It is all of that," said Paul, laughing. "Now I'll tell you what I
would do if I were in your place."

"What?"

"Were you ever in the Newsboys' Lodging House?"

"Lots of times."

"Then you know Mr. O'Connor, the superintendent?"

"Yes; he's very kind to us boys."

"Well, suppose we go round and ask him when the next company of boys
starts for the West. You could go with them, and he will find you a
place out there. What do you say?"

"I would like to do that," said Julius, with evident satisfaction.

"Then we will go up at once. I guess my business can wait a little
longer."

"You're very kind to me," said Julius, gratefully. "You'll lose money
goin' round with me so much."

"No matter for that. It won't ruin me. Besides, you've done me a great
service. I ought to be willing to do something for you."

"That ain't nothin'."

"I think different. Come along; we'll settle this matter at once."

The two boys kept on their way till they reached the lodging house.
All was quiet; for in the day-time the boys are scattered about the
streets, earning their livelihood in different ways. Only at
supper-time they come back, and in the evening the rooms are well
filled. Paul had been here before, not as a guest, for he had always
had a home of his own; but he had called in the evening at different
times. Julius had often passed the night there, during the lengthened
intervals of Jack's enforced residence in public institutions.

They met Mr. O'Connor just coming out.

"How do you do, Paul? I hope you're well, Julius," said the
superintendent, who has a remarkable faculty for rememberin