Part 45 (2/2)

”I shall watch out for that sharper, and nab him the first chance I get.”

”That's right; he ought to be arrested.”

”The trouble will be that there will be no one to make a complaint,” went on the policeman.

”I'll make a complaint if I am still in the city,” said Ralph.

”But where will I find you?”

”Ask for me at Mr. Kelsey's office in this building.”

”Oh! All right,” said the guardian of the peace, and then he and the boy separated.

In a minute more Ralph was back in the offices upstairs.

”Sorry, but Mr. Kelsey has not returned,” said the clerk. ”Better come in to-morrow about ten o'clock.”

”Thank you, I will,” replied Ralph.

He went downstairs much disappointed.

”I'll have to find some sort of a sleeping-place for to-night,” he thought.

”And it must be a cheap one, for if Mr. Kelsey doesn't come back in a day or two I will have to go home without seeing him, and I want to save the carfare to do it. No more riding in empty freight cars for me!” and he laughed to himself, as he remembered his experience in that line.

Ralph had often heard of the Battery, as the lower end of the city is called, and he determined to pay it a brief visit before nightfall should set in.

From a pa.s.ser-by he learned that Broadway ran directly down there, and on he walked against the great tide of humanity which was now setting in toward up-town.

It was not long before he reached the little park back of Castle Garden and the emigrant offices, and here he sat down on a bench to take a look at the bay, and also at the various types of people that were moving about in all directions.

It was dark when Ralph moved off. During his stay he had heard two young men speak of the Bowery, and the many odd sights to be seen there, especially during the evening.

”I have nothing to do between now and bedtime,” he thought. ”I'll take a stroll up the Bowery, and take in all that is to be seen. In such a place as New York it will be easy enough to find a cheap hotel when I want to retire.”

So leaving the Battery, he traveled up to Park Row, and continued along until the Bowery was reached.

The Bowery, even at this early hour in the evening, was alive with people.

Many of the men and women were of very questionable character, but Ralph did not know this. He walked along, staring at everything to be seen.

Presently he came to a clothing establishment, in front of which were hung a number of suits marked at very low figures. He stopped to examine them, and hardly had he done so when an outside salesman, or ”puller-in,” as he is called, approached him.

”Nice suits, eh?” he said, pleasantly, as he placed his hand on Ralph's arm.

”They look so,” returned the boy.

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