Three People | Page 9

and
balls of paper and ends of candles, everything but pennies; then looked
up with an innocent face.
"Why, as true as you live, I haven't got a cent."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Why riding, to be sure. It's enough sight nicer than walking this windy
day. Your driver stopped for everybody that held up his hand. I saw
him, so when I was invited kind of, how did I know I'd have to pay?"
The demure, innocent, childlike air with which Tode rattled off this
story can not be described. The conductor laughed.

"You're either very green or VERY old," he said at last. "And I'm not
sure which. Where do you want to go?"
"Oh I ain't a bit particular. You needn't go out of your way on my
account. I'll ride right along with you, and look at the sights."
Which accommodating spirit seemed greatly to amuse the other
platform riders; and as the car stopped at that moment for passengers,
the conductor turned away with a laugh, and left Tode to enjoy his ride
in peace.
On they went, and in spite of driving snow and sleet, Tode managed to
make the acquaintance of the driver, and get considerable amusement
out of his trip, when he suddenly broke off in the midst of a sentence,
and cleared the steps with a bound. Mr. Hastings had left the car and
crossed the street. Then commenced another chase, around the corner,
down one block, up another, on and on, until Tode, panting and
breathless, brought up at last before a grand hotel, inside which Mr.
Hastings vanished. Tode pushed boldly forward, shied behind a fat
gentleman who ran against them in the hall, and remained hidden long
enough to overhear the following conversation:
"Why, Mr. Hastings! How do you do? When did you arrive?"
"By the morning train, sir. All full here?"
"Well, comfortably so. Make room for you without a doubt. Stop
here?"
"Yes, sir. Always do."
"Remain long?"
"No, return on Friday. Waiter, this way, sir."
Tode drew a long breath of relief, and dodged out.
"Well," said he, with a satisfied air, "I'm thankful to say I've got that
man landed at last where he'll be likely to stay for some time. He's Mr.

Hastings, is he? It's convenient to know who one belongs to. Now I
must trudge off and do a little business on my own account, seeing we
'return on Friday.' First let's take a look at the name of this place where
I've decided to leave him, and this street is--yes, I see. Now I'm all
right--trust me for finding my way here again. Don't you be one mite
worried, Brother Hastings, I'll be around in time."
And Tode disappeared around a corner, whistling merrily.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
BRAIN-WORK.
What Tode didn't do during those three days' tarry in New York could
be told almost better than what he did. No country novice visiting the
great city for the first time could have begun to crowd in the sights and
scenes that revealed themselves to Tode's eager, wide-open eyes, in the
same space of time.
The boy had the advantage of most such, in that he had not much to eat,
and nowhere to eat it; also that he was in the habit of sleeping nowhere
in particular, consequently these matters took up very little of his time.
However he fared well, better than usual. He carried a package for an
over-loaded man for a short distance, thereby earning ten cents, which
he immediately expended in peanuts, and became peanut merchant for
the time being. So by dint of changing his business ten or a dozen times,
and being always on the alert, and understanding pretty thoroughly the
art of economy, he managed his lodging and three meals a day, and was
richer by twenty-five cents on the morning when he prepared to take
his departure than he was when he arrived in the city, a fact of which
few people who have been spending several days in New York can
boast.
Tode's fancy for attaching himself to Mr. Hastings still continued in full
force, and brought him bright and early on Friday morning around to
the hotel, where he had last seen him. Not one minute too early,

however, and but for Mr. Hastings' own tardiness too late. He had just
missed a car, and no other was in sight. Tode took in the situation at a
glance, and hopped across the street.
"Carry your baggage, sir?"
Mr. Hastings had a valise, a package, a cane, an umbrella, and the great
fur-lined cloak. He appreciated Tode's assistance.
"Yes," he said. "Take this, and this."
Away they went down town to head off another car, which was
presently signaled.
"Jump in, boy,