amazement at some of the costumes of the women he saw alighting from carriages.  Never before had he seen anything half so beautiful, and if any one had told him that there were such dresses he would have told them he didn’t believe it.  Some of them, he thought, must cost hundreds of dollars, and the jewels worn with them many hundreds more.  How interesting, how new, it all was to him!  Once he thought of the little home in the village, and at first wished that his mother might be there to enjoy the sights with him.  “But I wouldn’t want her to see me,” he thought, “not while I am so miserable, and feeling so discouraged.”  For Archie was beginning to wonder if he hadn’t made a mistake in leaving home, whether he had not been overconfident and hot-headed.  But he decided to try it a few days more, that is, if he could manage to live for that length of time in the city.

At twelve o’clock he was walking up and down the street, which was still bright with millions of lights, though the crowds had gone home from the theatres, and the restaurants were beginning to be less popular.  He was still wondering how he was going to find a place to sleep, when he was accosted by a policeman, and taken into a doorway.  “I’ve been watching you,” said the officer, “and I want to know why you are walking up and down the street at this time of night.”

Archie could have cried from fright, but he remembered that he was under suspicion, so decided to tell the policeman his whole story, and perhaps he could help him out in some way.  So he described his experiences during the day, and was surprised at the interest shown by the officer in the recital.  When he had finished he was told that he would be taken to the police station.  “You needn’t be afraid, my lad,” said the policeman.  “I’ll see that the Gerry Society doesn’t get you and send you home, that is, if you think you want to try it here a few days longer.  You can sleep at the station to-night, and the next morning you can try it again.”  So to the station they went, and Archie was, naturally, a little frightened when he saw, for the first time, the cells, and the terribly severe appearance of all his surroundings.  But he was given a good bed in which to sleep, and he passed a delightful night, dreaming of the wonderful adventures which befell him in the city.

He was not awakened until eight o’clock, and then he found the good policeman waiting to take him out to breakfast, He expressed surprise that he should be so kind to him.

“I always thought that officers were cross and unpleasant,” he said, “but you’re not that kind, anyhow.”

“Well,” laughed the officer, “we have to be cross very often, though we’re sometimes sorry to be so.  But I’ve taken a fancy to you, my lad.  I like to see a boy who does things.  When a boy of seventeen is willing to come to New York alone, and make his own way, without friends or influence of any kind, it shows a proper spirit, and he ought to succeed.  I know you’ll get along if you only persevere.  I’d advise you to keep on trying.”