Looking about him, he saw a schoolboy of his own age passing.
"Look here," he said, "what's that name up there on that door?"
"I left my spectacles at home," said Hake, "and I can't read without 'em."
"It's Paul Morton, then, if you want to know," said the boy, curtly.
"Paul Morton," repeated Hake to himself. "All right!"
But he was not quite sure whether he had not been deceived. So he went to the basement door, and rang.
"What's wanted?" said the servant, curtly.
"Does Paul Morton live here?" asked Hake.
"You might say Mr. Paul Morton while you're about it," said the servant. "Yes, he lives here, and what do you want with him?"
"I was sent here," said Hake with no particular regard for truth, "by a man as said Mr. Morton was a good man, and would give me some clothes."
"Then you won't get them here," said the girl, and the door was slammed in the boy's face.
"I've found out his name now," said Hake, "sure," and he repeated it over to himself until he was certain he could remember it. He retraced his steps to Fourth Avenue, and jumped on board a returning car, and was ere long landed at the druggist's shop.
"Well," said James Cromwell, looking up, "did you do as I told you?"
"Yes, it's all right. I want my quarter."
The boy took the money and scrambled off, well content with the results of his expedition; his mind intent upon the play he was to see in the evening.
"Paul Morton!" mused the clerk, thoughtfully. "I must put that name down. The knowledge may come in use some day. I hope some time or other I shall not be starving on ten dollars a week. It may be that my rise in the world will come through this same Paul Morton. Who can tell?"
The house in Twenty-ninth Street was a solid and substantial one which could only be occupied by a man of wealth. It was handsomely furnished, and all the appointments were such as to confirm the impression that its occupant was, to say the least, in easy circumstances financially. But it happens oftentimes that outward impressions are very far from correct. It was a fact that Paul Morton, who had lived here for ten years, was on the verge of ruin, and knew very well that unless some help should come he would be compelled to leave his fine residence and sink into poverty and obscurity.