Leaving the car, Bob walked to the sidewalk, and then looked about him to get his bearings.

Across the street stood the yellow brick apartment house the waitress had mentioned, and as it was the only building of its kind thereabout, he made his way to it.

Entering the vestibule, Bob scanned the names on the letter boxes for that of Mrs. John Cameron, but though he looked them over three times, he could not see it.

As he stood wondering what to do, a woman opened the door to come out.

Deciding that she was probably one of the people who lived in the building, Bob asked, taking off his hat, and bowing politely: 

“Can you tell me if Mrs. John Cameron lives here?”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“Well, she used to, didn’t she?”

“Yes, right across the hall from me, on the third floor, but she moved about six weeks ago.”

“Do you know where she’s gone?” cried Bob.

“She’s moved to Kansas City, but I don’t know her address.  Is there anything particular you wanted of her?”

“No—­that is, I just had a message to deliver to her from her sister in New York.”

“Well, I’m sorry that I can’t give you the address in Kansas City.  You might find it out, though, from the janitor, possibly,” added the woman, and smiling at Bob, she continued on her way.

For a moment Bob was undecided whether or not to ring for the janitor in order that he might inquire about the address of the waitress’ sister, and then realizing that there was no necessity for his so doing, he concluded to go to the station and wait for his train.

“It’s a mighty good thing I met Mr. Perkins,” said Bob to himself, as he rode back downtown on the street-car.  “If I hadn’t, I suppose I would have been obliged to go to work until I could get enough money to take me to Oklahoma, and it would have been an awful disappointment not to find Mrs. Cameron.  But it’s all right now; besides, I’m better off than I would have been if she had been here, because I have a pass clear to Fairfax, and her sister said her husband could only help me as far as Kansas City.”

CHAPTER XII

ALONE IN A STRANGE CITY

Arrived at the Northwestern railway station, for a time Bob wandered about, enjoying the novelty of the people rushing hither and thither in their search of either friends or relatives, purchasing tickets, and tending to the baggage, and he wondered how they could accomplish anything, so great was the hustle and bustle.

In the course of his wanderings, he chanced upon the station restaurant, and though in his excitement and the novelty of the scenes about him, he had not thought of eating, the sight of food suddenly roused his hunger, and he went up to one of the counters.

The prices of the food, however, amazed him, and it was several minutes before he had picked out anything that he wanted that did not cost too much.