"Yes. We occupied adjoining houses. Julian Lorimer was about my age, and attended the same school. I never liked him, however. He had a very high opinion of himself, and put on airs which made him generally unpopular." "Did he put on airs with you?" "Not till after the failure. My father moved out of his house, but Mr. Lorimer remained in his, and appeared to live in about the same style as before, while we moved into a few rooms in an unfashionable part of the city. After this Julian took very little notice of me." "You haven't met him since you came to New York?" "No; I rather wonder I haven't, but I suppose I shall some day." The time came sooner than he anticipated. Rupert was crossing Eighth Avenue near Forty-second Street one day, when he came near being run into by a bicycle. The rider gave a note of warning, and then stopped short in surprise. "Rupert Rollins!" he said, in a half tone of inquiry. "Is it you, Julian?" asked Rupert, recognizing his former schoolmate. "Yes. Are you living in New York?" "Yes." "Whereabouts?" "At present I am staying in Harlem." "I heard you and your mother were living in a tenement house down town." "My mother is not living in the city," returned Rupert, coldly. He did not care to give Julian any more information than was absolutely necessary. "Where is she, then?" "In Rutherford, New Jersey." "Why don't you live there, too?" "Because I expect to be employed in New York." "Then you are out of work now?" "Yes." "Why don't you live in the Newsboys' Lodge? That is cheap." "Have you ever lived there?" "Do you mean to insult me? I live in a nice house on One Hundred and Sixteenth Street." "So do I." "You are bluffing." "Why should I? What good would it do me?" Further inquiry developed the fact that they lived in neighboring blocks. "I don't see how you can afford to live on such a street." "I am at present visiting a friend--Mr. Sylvester." "Is he rich?" "Yes. I believe so." "I suppose you know that my father has a nice new store on Third Avenue, near Forty-second Street?" "I heard something of the kind," said Rupert, briefly. "He's doing a staving business--a good deal larger than he did in Buffalo." Rupert made no comment. "You said you were out of employment, didn't you?" "Yes." "You might call round at the store. Perhaps pa can find a place for you as a cash boy, though you would be rather large for that." "How much does he pay his cash boys?" "Two and a half a week." "I hardly think I could live on that," said Rupert, smiling. "It is better than being out of work." "That is true, but I shouldn't like to be getting more and more behindhand every week. Are you attending school?" "Yes, but I think of going into business soon." "Perhaps," suggested Rupert, "you will take one of the cash boys' places."