"My precious Fido!" exclaimed the young lady, as she embraced the little animal. "Did they put him in the dirty baggage car?" Then, turning to Fred, who stood by, she said spitefully: "It was all your work, you impertinent boy. I have a great mind to report you to the president of the road."

 

Raymond's attention was directed to Fred by his sister's attack.

 

"Fred Fenton!" he exclaimed in surprise.

 

"Yes," answered Fred, amused. "I was not aware that it was your sister and a relative of mine when I took sides against her."

 

"What does the boy mean?" demanded Miss Ferguson haughtily.

 

"It is Fred Fenton," explained Raymond deprecatingly.

 

"Does he claim relationship with me?" asked the young lady, looking disgusted.

 

"No, Miss Ferguson, I don't claim it, though I believe it exists," said Fred.

 

"A common train boy!" ejaculated the young lady. "This is altogether too much. Raymond, let us go!"

 

As they left the station the other young lady passenger who had listened eagerly to the conversation asked in a tone of almost painful excitement, "Is that the daughter of Robert Ferguson?"

 

"Yes, do you know him?" asked Fred in surprise.

 

"To my sorrow. When my poor father died Mr. Ferguson was appointed executor and trustee of his estate. It was not large, but we supposed it would amount to ten thousand dollars, and perhaps more. Last week my mother received a letter from him stating that he had satisfied all claims against the estate, and that only seventy-five dollars was left. This leaves us well-nigh penniless."

 

"Is it possible? Do you suspect that any fraud has been practised upon you?"

 

"My mother feels sure of it, but what can we do? We are poor, and the poor are always friendless," continued the girl bitterly.

 

"Have you come to New York to see Mr. Ferguson?"

 

"Yes; my mother wishes me to ask full particulars, and to appeal to him to do us justice. I fear it will be of no avail, but it is the only thing that we can do."

 

"Pardon me," said Fred, "but we had better be getting on board the ferry-boat, or we shall have to wait till the next."

 

"Thank you! I hardly know what I am doing."

 

Fred accompanied the young lady to the ladies' cabin and sat down beside her.

 

"Can I be of any service to you?" asked the train boy. "It is late for a young lady to arrive in New York."

 

"I supposed we should reach the city at nine. That is what a neighbor told me. I hardly know where to go," she added timidly. "Can you recommend a cheap hotel or boarding-house?"

 

"There would be a difficulty about obtaining admission to either this evening."

 

"Then what shall I do?" asked the girl, looking distressed.

 

"I think you had better come home with me for to-night. Our home is a very humble one but mother will take good care of you. To-morrow you can make other arrangements if you desire."

 

"Oh, how kind you are! I should like nothing better, if you really think your mother would not be annoyed."

 

Fred smiled.

 

"She is............