"Longer than that, sir. I'm going there to try my luck."
The gentleman looked surprised.
"I hope you'll succeed," he said. "You will find it rather uphill work,
I'm afraid. Where are you from, if I may ask?"
"I come from Mossvale. My name is Richard Dare. My father died from an accident a short while ago, and, as there didn't seem to be anything in our village for me to work at, I made up my mind to try New York."
The boy's open manner evidently pleased his listener.
"I am glad to know you," he returned. "My name is Joyce—Timothy Joyce.
I am a leather dealer—down in the Swamp. Here is my card."
"The Swamp?" queried Richard, puzzled by the appellation.
"Yes—at least that's what us oldtime folks call it. There used to be a swamp there years ago. I'm on Jacob Street. Maybe I can help you around a bit."
"Thank you, Mr. Joyce; I'm glad to know you," replied Richard gratefully. "I'm a perfect stranger, as I said, and it will be right handy to have some one to give me a few points."
Mr. Joyce smiled. He was quite taken by the boy's frank manner.