se.

"To be sure," returned the gentleman. "Only I have a theory that there
is a connection between faces and names, and you don't look like my
idea of Tom."

This was rather philosophical to be addressed to a New York bootblack;
but Tom was smart enough to comprehend it.

"If I don't look like Tom, what do I look like?" he asked.

"John, or Henry, or--or Gilbert," said the gentleman, bringing out the
last name after a slight pause.

"I like Tom best," said the boy; "it's short and easy."

"Do you live alone, or have you any friends?" asked the stranger.

"I live with an old man, but he ain't any relation to me."

"What's his name?"

"Jacob."

"What other name?" asked the customer, quickly.

Tom had by this time completed his task, and was standing erect, facing
the speaker.

"He's got an inquirin' mind," thought Tom; but, though rather surprised
at the questions, he had no objection to answer them.

"I don't know," he said.

"Don't know?"

"He never told me. Maybe it's Grey, like mine. Some call him my
grandfather, but he isn't."

"It is he," thought the stranger; "but things are well as they are. He
knows nothing, and need know nothing. I am safe enough, since between
us there is a great gulf of ignorance, and more than a thousand miles
of space."

"Well, my boy," he said, aloud, "I suppose you want to be paid?"

"That's what's the matter," answered Tom.

The stranger put in his hand a half dollar, and Tom, plunging his hand
in his pocket, prepared to give change.

"Never mind," said his late customer, with a wave of his hand.

"Thanks," said Tom, and he mentally wished he might be as well paid
every day for answering questions.

Tom shouldered his box, and walked a few steps down Broadway. It was
some time before another customer appeared, and meanwhile another
bootblack came up. The name of the newcomer was Pat Walsh. He enjoyed a
bad reputation among his comrades--as one who would take a mean
advantage, if he dared, and was at all times ready to bully a smaller
boy. He had long cherished an ill feeling toward Tom, because the
latter had interfered, on one occasion, to protect a smaller boy whom
Pat tried to cheat out of a job. As Tom's prowess was well known, Pat
had contented himself hitherto with uttering threats which he hesitated
to carry into execution. It was shrewdly suspected by his companions
that he was afraid to contend with Tom, and they had taunted him with
it. Finding his