“Staying at a hotel?”

“Yes, at the Sherman.  If you are at leisure this evening I shall be glad to have you call on me.  I am a stranger here, and likely to find the time hang heavy on my hands.”

“I shall be free at six o’clock.”

“Then come to supper with me.”

“Thank you, I shall be glad to do so,” answered Gray, with alacrity.  Living as he did at a cheap boarding house, the prospect of a supper at a first-class hotel was very attractive.  He was a pleasant-faced young man of twenty, who had drifted to Chicago from his country home in Indiana, and found it hard to make both ends meet on a salary of nine dollars a week.  His habits were good, his manner was attractive and won him popularity with customer’s, and with patience he was likely to succeed in the end.

“I wish I could live like this every day,” he said, as he rose from a luxurious supper.  “At present my finances won’t allow me to board at the Sherman.”

“Nor would mine,” said Carl; “but I am allowed to spend money more freely when I am traveling.”

“Are you acquainted in New York?” asked Gray.

“I have little or no acquaintance in the city,” answered Carl.

“I should be glad to get a position there.”

“Are you not satisfied with your present place?”

“I am afraid I shall not long keep it.”

“Why not?  Do you think you are in any danger of being discharged?”

“It is not that.  I am afraid Mr. French will be obliged to give up business.”

“Why?” asked Carl, with keen interest.

“I have reason to think he is embarrassed.  I know that he has a good many bills out, some of which have been running a long time.  If any pressure is brought to bear upon him, he may have to suspend.”

Carl felt that he was obtaining important information.  If Mr. French were in such a condition Miss Norris would be pretty sure to lose her money if she advanced it.

“To what do you attribute Mr. French’s embarrassment?” he asked.

“He lives expensively in a handsome house near Lincoln Park, and draws heavily upon the business for his living expenses.  I think that explains it.  I only wonder that he has been able to hold out so long.”

“Perhaps if he were assisted he would be able to keep his head above water.”

“He would need a good deal of assistance.  You see that my place isn’t very secure, and I shall soon need to be looking up another.”

“I don’t think I shall need to inquire any farther,” thought Carl.  “It seems to me Miss Norris had better keep her money.”

Before he retired he indited the following letter to his Albany employer: 

Miss Rachel Norris.

“Dear Madam:—­I have attended to your commission, and have to report that Mr. French appears to be involved in business embarrassments, and in great danger to bankruptcy.  The loan he asks of you would no doubt be of service, but probably would not long delay the crash.  If you wish to assist him, it would be better to allow him to fail, and then advance him the money to put him on his feet.  I am told that his troubles come from living beyond his means.