"This will pay you for your trouble."
The little girl's eyes sparkled with joy as the lady placed fifty cents in her hand.
"Thank you. How glad mother will be!" she said.
As for Dan, he was puzzled to conjecture what the lady could want of him. What would justify such a handsome compensation to Fanny merely to explain his absence to his mother?
"Now," said the lady, "if you will hail the next stage we will go up town."
They had not long to wait. Soon they were rattling over the pavements through thronged Broadway. It was two years since Dan had been in a Broadway stage. He could not afford to pay ten cents for a ride, but when it was absolutely necessary rode in a horse-car for half price.
Dan looked about him to see if he knew any one in the stage. Nearly opposite sat his former schoolmate, Tom Carver, with a young lady at his side. Their glances met, and Dan saw Tom's lip curl with scorn. Of course he did not betray any mark of recognition.
"I like riding in a Broadway stage," he heard the young lady say. "There is more to see as you go along. Besides, the company is more select."
"Not always," said Tom, with a significant glance at Dan.