“Where is the Merchants’ Bank?” asked Andy of a boy, whose blacking-box denoted his occupation.

“I’ll show you, mister,” said the boy.  “Come along.”  His young guide, instead of taking him to the bank, took him to the side door of the court-house, and said: 

“Go in there.”

It was a massive stone building, and Andy, not suspecting that he was being fooled, went in.  Wandering at random, he found his way into a room, where a trial was going on.  That opened his eyes.

“He cheated me,” thought Andy.  “Maybe I’ll get even with him.”

He retraced his steps, and again found himself in the street.  His fraudulent young guide, with a grin on a face not over clean, was awaiting his appearance.

CHAPTER XXV THE MERCHANT FROM PORTLAND

“Look here, young chap,” said Andy, “what made you tell me that was the Merchants’ Bank?”

“Isn’t it?” asked the bootblack, with a grin.

“It’s the bank where you’ll be wanted some time.  Shouldn’t wonder if they’d make a mistake and lock you up instead of your money.”

“Have you got any money in the Merchants’ Bank?” asked the other.

“I’m goin’ to see if they won’t give me some.  If you hadn’t cheated me, maybe I’d have invited you to dine with me at my hotel.”

“Where are you stoppin’?” asked the street boy, not quite knowing how much of Andy’s story to believe.

“At the most fashionable hotel.”

“Parker’s?”

“You’re good at guessin’.  Perhaps you’d like to dine there?”

“I don’t know as they’d let me in,” said the boy, doubtfully; “but I’ll show you where there’s a nice eatin’ house, where they don’t charge half so much.”

“’Twouldn’t be fashionable enough for me.  I shall have to dine alone.  See what comes of tryin’ to fool your grandfather.”

Andy went on, leaving the boy in doubt whether his jest had really lost him a dinner.

Andy didn’t go to the Parker House, however.  His expenses were to be paid by the Misses Grant, and he felt that it wouldn’t be right to be extravagant at their expense.

“I shall come across an eatin’ house presently,” he said to himself.

Not far off he found one with the bill of fare exposed outside, with the prices.  Andy examined it, and found that it was not an expensive place.  He really felt hungry after his morning’s ride, and determined, before he attended to his business, to get dinner.  He accordingly entered, and seated himself at one of the tables.  A waiter came up and awaited his commands.

“What’ll you have?” he asked.

“Bring me a plate of roast beef, and a cup of coffee,” said Andy, “and be quick about it, for I haven’t eaten anything for three weeks.”

“Then I don’t think one plate will be enough for you,” said the waiter, laughing.

“It’ll do to begin on,” said Andy.