The negro disappeared in the crowd, one of whom said to the mountain
boy:

"Why didn't you hand him over to yonder policeman?"

"Well--because I sort of felt sorry for the fool," was the explanation
Ralph would vouchsafe as he, too, turned away and extricated himself
from the throng.

After that he wandered about the city, finding something to excite his
wonder or admiration at every turn, until the lowness of the western
sun admonished him that he had better begin to look out for supper and
bed.

First he stepped into an area way, and placed his money in an inside
pocket.

"Best to be on the safe side," thought he, as he returned to the
street. "Looks like in these towns they'd steal a man's britches if
they could pull 'em off without his knowing it. Hullo! That must be
the captain's livery stable."

Directly across the street was a large wooden building, on the front of
which, in enormous letters, were these words:

SHARD'S LIVERY STABLE.


While Ralph was debating whether he should again make himself known,
the captain drove forth from the stable in a buggy. His quick eye