This was encouraging, but the day was marked by the greatest mortification
of his life.

He had rushed in his impetuous manner into a streetcar, when some one
called his name, and he turned about and saw Sam Harper and his sister,
both of whom had been his classmates at the Briggsville school, and Tom
was accustomed to look upon Nellie as a little above ordinary mortals.

Sam shook hands with Tom, and made some jocose remark about his new
business; but Nellie sneered, and looked out the car window.

A high-spirited lad who has experienced anything like this needs not to be
told that it cuts like a two-edged sword.




Chapter XII.



For two weeks Tom Gordon prosecuted his vocation as a newsboy in the city
of New York, by which time he had gained enough experience to earn his
daily bread, but nothing beyond that. Such being the case, he felt that he
was not making a success of his calling, as there was no reserve fund upon
which to draw for clothing or other necessities.

The greater portion of a month wore by, during which he never gained the
slightest knowledge of the fate of Jim Travers.