"But I would like to pay you something," persisted Charles Shotmore. "I don't wish it." "May I ask your name?" Robert gave it, and they shook hands. "I hope we meet again," said the gentleman, and after a few more words they parted, Shotmore going over to have his money order cashed without further delay,--he being already known at the post-office. From the directory in the drug store Robert had obtained Herman Wenrich's address. The old lumberman lived on the outskirts of the city, on the other side of the Chicago River, and the youth set off for the place, little dreaming of what trouble his visit was to bring to him. CHAPTER XIX. AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK. Andy Cross ran for several blocks after leaving Charles Shotmore and Robert so unceremoniously. Then he turned into a large office building and took the elevator to one of the upper floors. Here he felt himself tolerably safe from pursuit. He stood at a hall window, which overlooked the street, and gazing down saw a friend walking along on the opposite sidewalk. "Jim Huskin," he murmured. "I wonder if he has anything new on?" Feeling that Shotmore and Robert must have given up the pursuit by this time, he descended again and hurried after the man he had recognized. "Hullo, Jim!" he said, as he caught the other by the arm. Jim Huskin started, half fearing that it was a detective who had accosted him, for he was wanted for several petty crimes--indeed the two rascals were well matched, and had committed many a wrong deed together. "Andy!" replied Jim Huskin. "How are you?" "Nothing to brag of," answered Andy Cross. "Then you haven't been striking it rich lately." "On the contrary, I've had mighty poor luck. Have you got another cigar, Jim?" He said this for Huskin was smoking. "No. I got this out of a gent at the Palmer House. I tried to work him for a loan, but it was no go." "Then I reckon you haven't any more money than I." "I've got a quarter," answered Jim Huskin, frankly. "You are exactly five cents richer than yours truly." Both sharpers laughed at this. With them it was "easy come, easy go," and temporary poverty did not bother them. "Perhaps I am five cents richer," went on Jim Huskin. "But I owe my hotel three weeks' board." "It's a wonder they let you stay that long." "I've got a well-filled trunk in my room." And Huskin chuckled and winked one eye. "Filled with bricks, eh?" "No, paving stones--although they are about the same thing. Say, when the hotel keeper opens that he'll have enough to build on another addition." "He won't build it on to accommodate such guests as you." "I don't suppose he will--and I don't care." "I am behind two weeks with my landlady. She's sharp after me--but I don't care. I can't go back, even if I wanted to." "Had a falling out with somebody?" "Yes. One of the boarders got a money order and I tried to get it cashed for him." "And it didn't work, eh?"