"Really, I can't judge for others, not knowing all the circumstances." "The girl is ill bred, I am sorry to say. She treated me rudely in the cars." "She gives me no cause of complaint," said Lindsay shortly. He understood and despised Luella's attempts to prejudice him against the copyist. When he rose to go, Luella was disappointed. She felt that she had brought him no nearer, and had not strengthened her hold upon him. As the young lawyer descended the steps he met a man coming up whom he recognized as a dealer in worthless mining stock, who was looked upon by reputable business men with doubt and suspicion. "What business can Orlando Jenkins have with Mr. Ferguson?" he asked himself. CHAPTER XXIII. ANOTHER RAILROAD ADVENTURE. Six months have passed and brought with them some changes. At the end of two months Ruth Patton sent for her mother, who was feeling very lonely at Port Jervis, and engaged a suite of three rooms over those occupied by Mrs. Fenton and Fred. Though she was away during the day, the two ladies, living so near together, were company for each other. Ruth had now become advanced to twelve dollars a week, not out of charity, but because Alfred Lindsay's business had considerably increased and gave his copyist more to do. Fred was still on the Erie road, but it was now winter, and the travel had so much diminished that where he had formerly earned seven or eight dollars a week he now averaged no more than four. He began to be dissatisfied, for his income now was inadequate to meet his expenses, and he had been obliged to spend twenty dollars out of the two hundred which he had received from Mr. Lawrence at Niagara Falls. He was now seventeen, and he felt that it was high time he had entered upon some business in which he could advance by successive steps. On the road, if he remained till he was thirty years of age, he could earn no more than at present. He answered several advertisements, but secured nothing likely to be an improvement upon his present place. One evening toward the end of December he was about to leave the cars, when his attention was drawn to an old gentleman with hair nearly white, who did not rise with the rest of the passengers, but remained in his seat with his head leaned back and his eyes closed. The train boy, concluding that he had fallen asleep, went up to him and touched him gently. "We have reached Jersey City," he said. The old man opened his eyes slightly and gazed at him bewildered. "I--I don't know where I am," he murmured vaguely. "You are in Jersey City, sir." "I want to go to New York." "You have only to cross the ferry." "Excuse me; I am a stranger here. I am from Ohio. Where is the ferry?" "Let me lead you to the boat, sir." The old man rose feebly and put his hand to his head. "I don't know what is the matter with me," he said. "I feel sick." "Perhaps you are upset by your journey. Come with me, and I will take care of you."