o the boy. "I can carry
my baggage. It isn't heavy. I don't know that I'm going to stop here
after all. I think--"

Just then De Royster came pushing his way through the little crowd
about the desk.

"Hello, Charlie!" he exclaimed, addressing the clerk. "How are you,
old chap? Looking fine, upon my word!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. De Royster," replied the clerk cordially,
extending his hand. "Glad to see you. So you're back from your trip?"

"Yes, but I came pretty near not coming. Might not be alive if it
wasn't for my friend, Mr. Bradner, here. By the way, I want you to
give him the best in the house. He's a great friend of mine. Treat
him well."

"Of course we shall. We were just going to give him a good
room--er--ahem, Mr. Bradner, will you please register?" and he swung
the book around on the desk, dipping a pen in an ink bottle at the same
time.

Roy hesitated, and smiled just a little. He was contrasting the
treatment he might have received if Mr. De Royster had not been there.

"What's the matter?" asked the jewelry salesman, seeing that something
unusual had taken place.

"Oh, nothing much," replied Roy. "They took me for a member of a Wild
West show, I guess, and they were a little doubtful whether they'd let
me bunk here or not."

"Ahem! All a mistake! It was the bell boy's fault," said the clerk,
somewhat embarrassed.

"Here, Number twenty-six, take the gentleman's grip. Any friend of
yours, Mr. De Royster, is doubly welcome here. We can give you a fine
room, Mr. Bradner."

"All right," replied Roy, good naturedly. "I'll take one."

"I'll select it for you," put in Mr. De Royster, as he was in some
doubt as to Roy's finances, and he did not want to take too extravagant
an apartment.

Roy was soon shown to a pleasant room, Mortimer accompanying him.
Every one connected with the hotel seemed anxious to aid the boy from
the ranch, now that it was shown he had wealthy friends. Roy thought
De Royster must be a person of some influence. He was partly right,
though the influence came more from the rich and respected relatives of
the young jewelry salesman, than from himself. However, it answered
the same purpose.

"I am sorry you were annoyed by that clerk, my dear chap," said De
Royster, when he was seated in the room he had selected for Roy. "I
was unavoidably detained, speaking to a friend I met, don't you know."

"It's all right," replied Roy. "It all adds to my experie