."

"I thought so. You don't know Chicago, or you wouldn't say that.
Chicago has New York beaten any way you look at it."

"Then I reckon you're from Chicago, stranger," put in Roy, who had the
easy and familiar manners which life in the west breeds.

"I am, and I don't believe I'm far wrong when I say you're from off a
ranch."

"I am," admitted Roy, wondering how the stranger had guessed so soon.

"Well, there's no use getting into a dispute over our respective
cities," went on the stranger. "Everyone thinks his home town is the
best. Are you two traveling far?"

Thus the conversation opened, and the three were soon chatting
pleasantly together.

In due time the train arrived at Jersey City, just across the Hudson
River from New York.

"Here we are!" exclaimed Mr. De Royster. "A short trip across the
ferry now, and we'll be in the biggest city in the Western hemisphere."

Roy followed his friend from the train, mingling with the crowd on the
platform under the big shed.

"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Roy.

"What for?"

"I've got to see about my baggage. It's checked. I wonder if I can
hire a pack mule, or get a stage driver to bring it up?"

"Pack mule?"

"Sure. That's how I got it from the ranch to the depot."

Mortimer De Royster laughed.

"I guess there isn't a pack mule within two thousand miles of here," he
said. "Nor a stage either, unless it's the automobile ones on Fifth
avenue. But I'll show you what to do. Wait a minute though. You
don't know where you're going to stop, do you?"

"Not exactly."

"Then if you'll allow me, I'll pick out a good hotel for you."

"I'll leave it to you, pardner," said Roy, with a helpless feeling
that, however much he might know about ranch life, he was all at sea in
a big city.

"All right. Then I'll give your checks to an expressman, and he'll
bring the trunks to the hotel. Right over this way."

Mortimer De Royster led Roy through the crowd, to the express office.
The matter of the baggage was soon attended to, and the agent promised
to have the trunk and large valise at the hotel before night. It was
now four o'clock.

"Come on!" cried De Royster again, pushing his way through the crowd,
with Roy who carried a small valise, containing a few clothes,
following close after him.

"Wait a minute!" again called the boy from the ranch.

"What's the matter now?"

"I want to sort of get my bearings. This is a new trail to me, and I'd
like