How soon can you ship the goods ?" "I am afraid not to-day, as we are very busy.

Early next week we will send them." His business concluded, Ben left the store and walked up to Broadway.
The crowded thoroughfare had much to interest him.

He was looking at a window when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
It was a young man foppishly attired, who was smiling graciously upon him.
"Why, Gus Andre," he said, "when did you come to town, and how did you leave all the folks in Bridgeport ?" "You have made a mistake," said Ben.
"Isn't your name Gus Andre ?" "No, it is Ben Barclay, from Pentonville." "I really beg your pardon.

You look surprisingly like my friend Gussie." Five minutes later there was another tap on our hero's shoulder, as he was looking into another window, and another nicely dressed young man said heartily: "Why, Ben, my boy, when did you come to town ?" "This morning," answered Ben.

"You seem to know me, but I can't remember you." "Are you not Ben Barclay, of Pentonville." "Yes, but----" "Don't you remember Jim Fisher, who passed part of the summer, two years since, in your village ?" "Where were you staying ?" asked Ben.
It was the other's turn to looked confused.
"At--the Smiths'," he answered, at random.
"At Mrs.Roxana Smith's ?" suggested Ben.
"Yes, yes," said the other eagerly, "she is my aunt." "Is she ?" asked Ben, with a smile of amusement, for he had by this time made up his mind as to the character of his new friend.