"Nor I. I drank some as a young man, but I soon saw the folly of it, and broke it off." Mr. Brand's appearance hardly bore him out in this statement. His nose was decidedly red, and his complexion mottled. Still Gerald never doubted his assurance. He began to think Brand a man of exemplary habits. They took the Sixth Avenue cars near the Astor House, and started up-town. Brand signaled the conductor to stop at Twelfth Street, and then turned toward Seventh Avenue. He stopped at a brick house half way down the block, and opened the door with a pass-key. The hall into which he led the way was rather dingy, and the interior suggested a tenement-house. "I am not very well satisfied with this house," said Brand, "and I shall probably soon make a change. I came here to oblige the landlady, who is an old friend of mine, and was finding it difficult to pay the rent. I wish I could live in the country. Everything is so much neater there. I was born in the country, but my business requires me to live in New York." "I don't think I should like to live in the city," said Gerald. "Of course it is a better place for a business man. You may come to live here in time." "Perhaps so." By this time they had reached a room on the third floor. Brand opened the door and led the way in. It was a long, narrow room, with one window at the end, and was very plainly furnished. The bed did not appear to have been made, and there was a dirty towel hanging over the back of a chair. Gerald was certainly surprised. He supposed that Brand had a comfortable home. In fact, he thought he occupied a whole house, as was the case with those whom he knew in Portville. "Isn't your wife at home?" he asked, for he saw no signs of a woman's occupation. "My wife?" asked Brand, looking surprised. "Yes; you said you wanted your wife to see me, on account of my resemblance to Jack Mortimer." "Oh, yes; of course. It didn't occur to me that my wife had gone over to Brooklyn to spend the day." There was something in his tone and in the surroundings that excited Gerald's suspicion for the first time. "I think if that is the case, Mr. Brand, I will not stay," he said. Brand did not reply, but deliberately locked the door and put the key in his pocket. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIX A BOLD ROBBERY "WHAT does this mean, Mr. Brand?" demanded Gerald, with quick suspicion. Brand sat down on the bed, and answered, with a smile: "It means that I want your money, young man." "How do you know that I have any?" "I was in the Park National Bank when you drew money this morning. I want it." "So you are a thief?" returned Gerald, hotly, "You would rob a boy?" "I would rob any one that had money. The fact is, I am hard up and must get money somewhere." "And this was your object in making my acquaintance and taking me about the city." "Yes; you have guessed it."