deuce, and tray) in his shoe, he would
have gone into a store and bought something.

He had borrowed five cents that morning off his landlady, for his mouth
craved tobacco. Although he owed her much for board, she had unlimited
confidence in him, because his stock of self-assurance was very large
indeed. And as it increased in a proper ratio with the amount of his
bills, his relations with her seemed on a firm basis. So he strolled
along and smoked with his confidence in fortune in nowise impaired by
his financial condition.

Of a sudden he perceived on old man seated upon a railing and smoking a
clay pipe.

He stopped to look, because he wasn't in a hurry, and because it was an
unusual thing on Broadway to see old men seated upon railings and
smoking clay pipes.

And to his surprise the old man regarded him very intently in return. He
stared, with a wistful expression, into Tom's face, and he clasped his
hands in trembling excitement.

Tom was filled with astonishment at the old man's strange demeanour. He
stood puffing at his cigarette, and tried to understand matters.
Failing, he threw his cigarette away, took a fresh one from his pocket,
and approached the old man.

"Got a match?" he inquired, pleasantly.

The old man, much agitated, nearly fell from the railing as he leaned
dangerously forward.

"Sonny, can you read?" he demanded in a quavering voice.

"Certainly, I can," said Tom, encouragingly. He waived the affair of the
match.

The old man fumbled in his pocket. "You look honest, sonny. I've been
looking for an honest feller fur a'most a week. I've set on this railing
fur six days," he cried, plaintively.

He drew forth a letter and handed it to Tom. "Read it fur me, sonny,
read it," he said, coaxingly.

Tom took the letter and leaned back against the railings. As he opened
it and prepared to read, the old man wriggled like a child at a
forbidden feast.

Thundering trucks made frequent interruptions, and seven men in a hurry
jogged Tom's elbow, but he succeeded in reading what follows:--

Office of Ketchum R. Jones, Attorney-at-Law,
Tin Can, Nevada, May 19, 18--.

Rufus Wilkins, Esq.

Dear Sir,--I have as yet received no acknowledgment of the draft
from the sale of the north section lots, which I forwarded to you
on 25th June. I would request an immediate reply concerning it.

Since my last I have sold