“That is just what I think, sir,” answered Phil, with a laughably rueful expression of countenance. “I didn’t mean to leave it there, I can assure you, and didn’t know that I had. The sleeping-car porter picked it up from the floor while I was doing up my things, and as I had my overcoat on I just stuck it into one of the pockets for a second, meaning to place it where it belonged directly afterwards. Then we got in, and with the confusion I forgot all about it. But I will put it away safe enough now, and I am awfully obliged to you, sir, for I couldn’t well afford to lose what it contains.”
Thus saying, Phil restored the wallet that his carelessness had so nearly lost to his inner vest pocket, and after a prolonged struggle succeeded in securing it there with his aunt Ruth’s trusty safety-pins.
The gentleman watched this proceeding with an amused smile, but with words of commendation for the safety-pin plan. “I am glad to see,” he said, “that you are, after all, an unusually prudent and careful lad, for I feared you might be one of the heedless tribe, and might thereby get into trouble. May I inquire if you are going to stop in Victoria?”
“Only until the Alaska steamer comes along,” answered Phil. “I am on my way to Sitka, where I am to join my father.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed the stranger. “Then we shall see a great deal of each other, for I, too, am on my way to Sitka. In fact, that is my home. If you will allow me, I will hand you my card.”
On the card which Phil thus received and then thrust into a pocket of his own card-case was engraved simply “Mr. Arthur Ames,” and of course the lad had no means of knowing that his new acquaintance was one of the most eminent and best-known men in the whole Northwest. As he handed out his own card in return, Mr. Ames said: “I wondered if I should not know your father, and now I see that I do. That is, if he is Mr. John Ryder, the mining expert.”
“Yes, sir, that is his name,” replied Phil, delighted at this recognition.
“Then I am doubly glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Ryder, and am obliged to the fortunate incident of the pocket-book that led to it.”
Phil was greatly pleased with this new friend, who was able to point out everything of interest, and was possessed of such stores of information concerning Alaska, that the lad looked forward with pleasing anticipations to travelling in his company.
It was long after dark before the electric lights of Victoria were sighted, and Phil expressed disappointment that he could see nothing of the city.