"I lost my position a month ago. Since then I have only managed to earn enough to live, and it was hard work at times. I hadn't had anything to eat all day yesterday," he went on, "and I was cold and weak. I was on my way to the river, thinking I could find a place on the wharves to sleep, when I stumbled and fell into the snowbank. When I was down it felt so warm there I decided to stay. I didn't care what became of me." "But you do now, don't you?" asked Frank. "Do I?" asked the boy eagerly. "Say, will you lend me a stamp so I can write home to mother?" "We'll do better than that," said Bart. "We'll send her a telegram." When the message had been forwarded to Mrs. Perry, telling her of the unexpected finding of her wandering boy, the three chums told the waif their reason for being in New York. "And you haven't been able to find a trace of Ned, eh?" asked William, musingly. "Not a trace," replied Frank. "But don't let our troubles worry you. You must get strong and hurry home to your mother." "Say, let me help you!" exclaimed William eagerly. "Maybe I can pay you back for your kindness. I know New York like a book. I've knocked all around it for the last six months. Maybe I can locate Ned for you. I know lots of places where fellows go when they're down on their luck, as I was. Let me help. Mother won't mind when I write and tell her I'm going to stay here a few days longer, when she knows what it's for. I believe I can help you." "Perhaps you can," said Fenn. So it was arranged that William was to stay with the three chums at the hotel for a few days. He was not to venture out until the next day, however, as he was still weak. "Will you be all right if we leave you alone here?" asked Frank a little later. "We want to go out and make some inquiries." "Sure. Go ahead," replied William. "I'm so happy now I'll not be lonesome." The three chums went to police headquarters to ask if any news concerning Ned had been received, but there was none for them. The sergeant behind the desk tried to cheer them up by remarking that "no news was good news." "We must find him pretty soon," Bart declared. "If we don't I'll begin to believe something bad has happened." As they were walking along the Bowery, in the neighborhood of the cheap variety theaters, they were attracted by a flaming poster which announced the various performers who could be seen or heard. They paused and read it through. There were men who imitated monkeys, trained birds, strong men, women who sang, bands of musicians, and at the bottom of the poster was the announcement. HEAR JOHN NEWTON, THE GREAT BIRD WHISTLER. "John Newton," murmured Fenn. "That name sounds familiar." "Of course it does," replied Frank. "That's the name of the chap who was expelled from our high school last term." "So it was. But this can't be the same one."