"Ohio."
"Is that so! The late Mr. Talcott came from Ohio."
"I think I had better take the room, at least for a week," said Nat. The manner of the lady pleased him. She was evidently poor, but of good breeding.
"Very well. Do you want the room to-night?"
"Yes."
"Have you had supper?"
"Yes, I had a bite on the train."
"Very well, I"ll get the room ready for you."
"And I"ll go out and finish selling my papers," said d.i.c.k Talcott, and ran out of the room and down the stairs, two steps at a time.
CHAPTER IX
FIRST DAYS IN NEW YORK
Having paid for his room for one week in advance, Nat sat down to talk to Mrs. Talcott. He found her a very pleasant woman, whose experiences in life had been much varied.
"d.i.c.k is the only person left to me," said she. "He had both a brother and a sister, but they died when they were young."
"Does he sell papers every day?"
"Oh, yes, and he has a morning route besides, which he carries for a stationer on the Avenue."
"I suppose he makes quite some money, doesn"t he? Excuse me for asking, but you know, I"ve got to make my living too."
"The route pays him a dollar and a quarter a week, and he makes three or four dollars besides."
"Well, five dollars a week is better than nothing."
"The stationer says he will give d.i.c.k a place this fall. That will pay six or seven dollars a week."
"I wish I had a job at six or seven dollars a week."
"Have you anything in view?"
"Not a thing. I am going out in the morning to look for work."
"You may find it very hard to get an opening."
"Oh, I guess I can find something," answered Nat, confidently.
"I trust you are not disappointed. So many come in from the country and find it impossible to get an opening."
"I wish I had a map of New York City. I could study it, and locate the streets."
"I have such a map," was the answer, and the lady brought it forth. "I will put it on the table just as it should be. This is east and this is west, and here is where this house is located, and here is the Grand Central Depot. Now, you can do your best to fix the rest of it in your head."
Nat pored over the map for a good hour, and during that time located Broadway, and a number of other important thoroughfares.
"It"s certainly a tremendously big city," said he. "One could get lost without half trying."
"You can carry that map around this week, if you wish," said Mrs.
Talcott. "It may help you a great deal."
Nat went to bed with his head in something of a whirl from the long train ride and from studying the map. It was a long while ere he could close his eyes in sleep.
"I"m up against it now," he mused. "It"s sink or swim, and nothing else."
He resolved to arise early, and as soon as he heard d.i.c.k Talcott get up, he dressed and went into the dining room to meet the newsboy.
"Hullo, how did you sleep?" asked d.i.c.k.
"Fairly good, considering. Are you going out on your route now?"
"Yes."
"I want to buy some papers that have advertis.e.m.e.nts of Help Wanted in them. Which are the best papers?"
d.i.c.k named them. "You needn"t buy them unless you wish. I"ll let you look over my bunch, if you want to come with me."
"Thank you, d.i.c.k."
The two procured a hasty breakfast, and set out, and soon the newsboy had his package of morning newspapers. He showed Nat where to look for the advertis.e.m.e.nts, and our hero sat down on a stoop, while d.i.c.k ran his route.
"Well, did you find anything worth looking up?" asked the newsboy, on returning.
"A dozen or more," cried Nat, gleefully. "It will be an easy matter to get work, I"m thinking."
At this the New York boy grinned broadly.
"Don"t you fool yourself, Nat."
"But here are the advertis.e.m.e.nts."
"Yes, and a hundred young fellows after every one."
At this Nat"s face fell.
"You are sure of this?"