"Yes, but what do they eat? You know they must eat, or they would not live;" and Smythe felt that he had cornered him.
"True for you sir. Well they eat mostly at different places. When in New York some of them like to stop at the Astor, and others again prefer rooming in the lumber piles and taking their meals at Delmonico's. The Fifth Avenue is good enough for me though;" and he smiled upon Smythe, and Algernon opened his eyes and mouth to their fullest extent.
"Don't you ever work? Do you never care to earn money at labor?" asked Wasson.
"Work! Labor! Me! I'm not used to it, but I don't stand back from it on that account. No sir. I love to work. Do you know of any body that wants a hand to help cut ice, or can strawberries, or take astronomical observations? If you do, tell me, for I'm their man. Work! I adore it!" and his face expressed his adoration.
"How long did it take you to come from New Orleans?" asked Hough.
The prodigal studied a moment, and then replied, "I left New Orleans on the 20th of last month. I made St. Louis in eight days and it's taken me two weeks and a trifle more to come from St. Louis here."
"Why, that is over one hundred miles a day! You're a fast walker," said Hough.
"Walk! Who said anything about walking? Not much. I walked when I felt like it, and I rode when I felt like it."
"You had money, then?" asked Wasson.
"Money!" exclaimed he of the maroon pants, disdainfully. "Money! Nary red. What did I want of money. Any fool can travel with money. I beat my way!" and a look of conscious pride illumined his face.