have taken in addressing you, but if you
will favor me with a few minutes' conversation, I think I can make it
worth your while."

"Very well. I am ready to hear what you have to say."

"By the way, are you staying at a hotel?"

"No; I am boarding on Monroe Street."

"Is it a good boarding-house?"

"Excellent."

"I am looking for one, and if you will allow me, I will walk round with
you, and see what it is like."

Bert knew that Mrs. Shelby had a room which she was anxious to let, and
he readily agreed to introduce the stranger.

"I am staying at a hotel just now," explained his companion, "but I
prefer a boarding-house as more home-like. Are you a stranger in the
city?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where from?"

"From New York."

"I am from San Francisco. I have only been here a week."

They conversed upon indifferent topics till they reached Mrs. Shelby's.

"I will go up and take a look at your room first, if you don't mind.
That will give me an idea of the accommodations."

"Very well, sir."

Bert led the way to his own room, and both entered.

"Very neat, on my word!" said the stranger. "Now I will allude to the
little matter of business--and then you can introduce me to your
landlady."

"Just as you please, sir."

"It is briefly this: Do you see this watch?"

He took out a showy gold watch, and held it up before Bert.

"I find myself unexpectedly short of funds, owing to the failure of a
remittance to come to hand, and I am going to offer you this watch at a
bargain. You have none, I see."

"No, and I have no money to spare to buy one."

"Wait till I offer you an inducement. This watch cost me a hundred
dollars. I have had it only six months. I offer it to you for
twenty-five."

"I presume that is a good offer; but I have no money of my own that I
can use for the purpose of buying a watch."

"My young friend, it will pay you to borrow, for you can double your
money on the watch. Any one will give you fifty for it."

"Then why do you offer it to me for twenty-five?" asked Bert shrewdly.

"Because I can't wait to hunt up a customer."

"I cannot buy it."

"Then I will make you another offer. Lend me ten dollars on it, and I
will redeem it in three days, and give you five dollars for the
accommodation."

Bert hesitated. It seemed an easy way of earning five dollars.

"If I don't redeem it, you have the watch itself for security for a
ridiculously small sum. Of course I shan't give you the c