"No matter for that. It won't ruin me. Besides, you've done me a great service. I ought to be willing to do something for you." "That ain't nothin'." "I think different. Come along; we'll settle this matter at once." The two boys kept on their way till they reached the lodging house. All was quiet; for in the day-time the boys are scattered about the streets, earning their livelihood in different ways. Only at supper-time they come back, and in the evening the rooms are well filled. Paul had been here before, not as a guest, for he had always had a home of his own; but he had called in the evening at different times. Julius had often passed the night there, during the lengthened intervals of Jack's enforced residence in public institutions. They met Mr. O'Connor just coming out. "How do you do, Paul? I hope you're well, Julius," said the superintendent, who has a remarkable faculty for remembering the names and faces of the thousands of boys that from time to time frequent the lodging house. "Do you want to see me?" "Yes, sir," answered Paul; "but we won't detain you long." "Never mind about that; my business can wait." "Julius wants to go out West," proceeded Paul. "Now, what we want to find out is, when you are going to send a party out." "This day week." "Who is going out with it?" "It is not quite decided. I may go myself," said the superintendent. "Can Julius go out with you?" "Yes; we haven't got our full number. He can go." "Then you're all right, Julius," said Paul. "What gave you the idea of going out West, Julius?" asked Mr. O'Connor. "Marlowe's after me," said Julius, briefly. The superintendent looked mystified, and Paul explained. "Didn't you read in the papers," he asked, "about the burglary on Madison avenue?" "At Mr. Talbot's house?" "Yes." "Had Julius anything to do with that?" "Through his means the burglars were prevented from carrying out their designs, and one of them was captured. This was Jack Morgan, with whom Julius lived. The other, a man named Marlowe, got off. As he suspected Julius beforehand of betraying them, and is a man of revengeful disposition, Julius is afraid of staying in the city while he is at large. We both think he had better go West. There he may have a chance of doing well." "No doubt. Why, some of our boys who have gone out there have grown rich. Others have persevered in seeking an education, and there are lawyers, ministers and doctors, as well as merchants, now prosperous and respected, who graduated from the streets of New York, and were sent out by our society." The face of Julius brightened as he heard these words. "I hope I'll do well," he said.