"You are still more indebted to the young bell-boy," indicating Rupert. "Let me suggest that you can't do better than to offer him the money you have saved from our sharp friend here." "I'll do better than that," said the farmer. "I will give him ten dollars. He has saved me from making a fool of myself." "You see, Clayton," said the detective, "that it is better to be honest than a knave. The bell-boy has made more in this affair than you." "Can I go?" asked Clayton, crestfallen. "Yes, and don't let me see you here again. I shall have my eye on you, and the next time you won't get off so easily." Clayton lost no time in availing himself of this permission. In sadness and disappointment he left the hotel, inwardly resolving never to enter it again. "Why wasn't I satisfied with the five dollars?" he asked himself. "Confound that young bell-boy! He has spoiled my game. But for him I would be able to live in clover for a couple of months." The farmer started on his return to Orange County in the afternoon. Before going he handed Rupert a ten-dollar bill. The bell-boy was surprised. He knew nothing of Mr. Darke's recommendation, and did not expect such liberality from Ezekiel Onthank, whom he looked upon as a poor man. "I don't think I ought to take it, Mr. Onthank," he said. "You needn't hesitate, sonny. I can afford it. I don't wear as good clothes as the young sprig that tried to swindle me, but I ain't a poor man by no means. If you ever have time to pay me a visit in Orange County I'll make you welcome and see that you have a good time." "Thank you, Mr. Onthank. If I should hear of a good situation for your son I will let you know, and I won't charge a hundred and fifty dollars for it, either. I haven't got an office in Wall Street, though." "That was a good joke. That 'ere Clayton was a pooty smart rascal, after all." "Ho, ho!" laughed the farmer. "Shall you invite him to visit you in Orange County, Mr. Onthank?" "I guess he wouldn't accept. We live plain, and he's a rich Wall Street broker. But we'll be glad to see you at any time." CHAPTER XIV. THE YOUNG NEWSBOY. Rupert had engaged a room on Bleecker Street. It is not a fashionable locality, but the time was when A. T. Stewart and other men of social standing lived upon it. Rupert's room, a small hall bedroom, cost him two dollars per week. It was rather large for a hall room, and was clean and well furnished, beyond the average of such rooms in that locality. The house was kept by a widow, a Mrs. Stetson, a good, hard-working woman, who deserved a better fate than the position of a lodging-house keeper. Usually Rupert reached his room about eight o'clock in the evening. He left the hotel at seven, and stopped for supper on the way. Arrived at his room he generally spent an hour in reading or studying (he had undertaken to review his arithmetic, thinking that some time he might obtain a situation where a good knowledge of that science might be needed).