"I live in the country," said the other--quite needlessly, so Sam thought--"up in New Hampshire. I've come down here to get a job."

"So have I," responded Sam, with new interest in his companion.

"Are you boardin' here?" asked the countryman.

"No; I am going to try to find a boarding-place. The prices are too steep here."

"Let me go with you," said the young man, eagerly.

Sam thought, on the whole, it would be pleasanter to have company, and accepted this proposal.

They bought a copy of the Boston _Herald_ and picked out a list of boarding-houses which appeared to come within their means. Among these were two on Harrison Avenue. One of these was the very house which had already been mentioned to Sam by his boy acquaintance of the morning.

"Do you know your way round the city?" asked Sam of his companion.

"A little," said the other.

"Do you know how to go to Harrison Avenue?"

"Yes, I know that."

"Is it far?"

"Not very far. We can walk easy enough."

"That's all right, then. Let us go."

The two set out on their expedition, walking up Washington Street as far as Essex, and, turning there, soon entered Harrison Avenue. They beguiled the time on the way by conversation.

"What, was you calc'latin' to find to do?" asked the countryman.

"I was clerk in a store in New York," said Sam; "I'd like to get into a store here."

"So should I."

Sam privately thought him too countrified in appearance for the position he desired, but did not say so.

"Have you had any experience?" he asked, curiously.

"Oh, yes; I used to drive the wagon for a grocery store, to hum."

Sam privately doubted whether this experience would be of any particular value to his new acquaintance. However, he had not much faith in his own qualifications, and this concerned him more.

"What's your name?" inquired Sam.

"Abner Blodgett," was the reply. "What's yours?"

"Sam Barker."

"You don't say! There's a doctor in our town by the name of Barker; any relation?"

"I guess not. I never heard of a doctor in our family."

Presently they reached the number indicated. Sam rang the bell.

"You are looking for a boarding-place," he explained. "We saw your advertisement in the _Herald._"

"Walk in," said the servant. "I'll tell Mrs. Campbell."

Mrs. Campbell presently appeared; a shrewd-looking Scotch lady, but kindly in expression.

"You are looking for a boarding place, gentlemen?" she inquired.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I have one single room and one double one. For the single room I have eight dollars a week; for the double one fourteen, that is, seven dollars for each gentleman. Do you two gentlemen wish to room together?"

"Yes," answered Blodgett, immediately; "if you are willing," he added aside, to Sam.

"Let us look at the rooms," said Sam, "and then we can tell better."

"Walk up this way, gentlemen," said Mrs. Campbell.

She led the way first to the double room. It was a square room, the second floor back, and looked quite neat and comfortable. Sam liked the appearance of it, and so apparently did Abner Blodgett.

"Ain't it scrumptious, though?" he said, admiringly. "We ain't got many rooms like that to hum."

"I suppose you are from the country, sir?" said Mrs. Campbell, with a good-natured smile.

"Yes," said Blodgett, "I'm from New Hampshire; away up near Mount Washington."

"Let me see the single room," requested Sam.

The single room was shown; but it was, of course, much smaller, and the furniture was inferior.

"We'd better take the big room together," said Abner.

Sam hesitated a moment. He was not very particular, but he did not altogether fancy the appearance of Mr. Blodgett.

"How much do you charge for the large room for a single person?" he asked.

"I couldn't take less than eleven dollars," said the landlady.

It was, of course, impossible for Sam to pay any such sum, and he reluctantly agreed to occupy the room jointly with Mr. Blodgett.

"When will you move in?" asked Mrs. Campbell.

"To-day," said Sam.