IX. A PAIR WELL MATCHED, 69 X. GERTRUDE LEAVES HER HOME, 77 XI. AFLOAT IN NEW YORK, 85 XII. NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY, 94 XIII. A QUESTION OF BUSINESS, 102 XIV. BULSON RECEIVES A SETBACK, 111 XV. BUYING OUT A NEWS STAND, 119 XVI. NELSON AND PEPPER PART, 127 XVII. A BOLD MOVE, 134 XVIII. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY, 140 XIX. NELSON TO THE RESCUE, 147 XX. THE HOME IN THE TENEMENT, 155 XXI. NELSON MAKES A PRESENT, 162 XXII. A DISAPPOINTMENT, 170 XXIII. AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST, 176 XXIV. A DECOY LETTER, 183 XXV. MARK HORTON RELENTS, 190 XXVI. NELSON ON SHIPBOARD, 198 XXVII. DOWN THE JERSEY COAST, 206 XXVIII. GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVENTURE, 215 XXIX. A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD, 224 XXX. COMPARING NOTES, 233 XXXI. BULSON GROWS DESPERATE, 240 XXXII. SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN, 248 XXXIII. QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE, 257 XXXIV. FATHER AND SON--CONCLUSION, 266 NELSON THE NEWSBOY. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCING THE HERO. "_Herald_, _Times_, _Tribune_! All the news of the day! Have a paper, sir? All about the terrible fire in Harlem! Two lives lost!" High and clear above the din made by the cabs, trucks, and street cars a boyish voice could be heard. The speaker was but fifteen years of age, tall and thin, with a face that betokened a refinement unusual to such a station in life. But if the lad's look was above the average, his clothes were not, for they were in tatters, while the hat and shoes he wore had seen far better days. "A fire in Harlem, eh?" queried a stout gentleman, as he stopped short in front of the newsboy. "Yes, sir; a big one, too, sir. Which paper will you have?" "Which has the most in about the fire?" "All about the same, sir. Better take 'em all, sir. Then you'll be sure to have all the news," added the newsboy shrewdly. At this the stout gentleman laughed. "I don't know but what you are right," he said. "Give me one of each." The words were scarcely uttered when the newsboy had the papers ready for him. Taking the several sheets, the stout man passed over a dime and started to cross the crowded thoroughfare. "Change, sir!" cried the boy, and dove into his pocket for a handful of cents. "Never mind the change, lad." "Thank you, sir!" The newsboy wheeled quickly. "_Herald_, _Times_, _Tribune_! Who'll have a paper? All the latest news! Extra!" The stout man stepped from the curb into the gutter, and there halted to let a truck go by. As he waited he began to scan one of the newspapers he had purchased. Suddenly he gave a violent start. "Fire in the Starmore apartment house!" he muttered. "The building I purchased only last month! What bad luck is this?"