Part 13 (2/2)
”I don't care to tell you, boys. He's written me a letter, saying he will try to pay me back some day. I think he will. He isn't a bad man, but he has been unlucky.”
Mike, at the request of Mr. O'Connor, showed Rodney a locker in which he could store such articles of clothing as he had with him. After that he felt more at home, and as if he were staying at a hotel though an humble one.
At eight o'clock some of the boys had already gone to bed, but Mike and Rodney were among those who remained up. Rodney noticed with what kindness yet fairness the superintendent managed his unruly flock.
Unruly they might have been with a different man, but he had no trouble in keeping them within bounds.
It was at this time that two strangers were announced, one a New York merchant named Goodnow, the other a tall, slender man with sandy whiskers of the mutton chop pattern.
”Good evening, Mr. Goodnow,” said the superintendent, who recognized the merchant as a friend of the society.
”Good evening, Mr. O'Connor. I have brought my friend and correspondent Mr. Mulgrave, of London, to see some of your young Arabs.”
”I shall be glad to give him all the opportunity he desires.”
The Englishman looked curiously at the faces of the boys who in turn were examining him with equal interest.
”They are not unlike our boys of a similar grade, but seem sharper and more intelligent,” he said. ”But surely,” pointing to Rodney, ”that boy is not one of the--Arabs. Why, he looks like a young gentleman.”
”He is a new comer. He only appeared tonight.”
”He must have a history. May I speak with him?”
”By all means. Rodney, this gentleman would like to talk with you.”
Rodney came forward with the ease of a boy who was accustomed to good society, and said: ”I shall be very happy to speak with him.”
CHAPTER VIII.
RODNEY FINDS A PLACE.
”Surely,” said the Englishman, ”you were not brought up in the street?”
”Oh, no,” answered Rodney, ”I was more fortunate.”
”Then how does it happen that I find you here--among the needy boys of the city?”
”Because I am needy, too.”
”But you were not always poor?”
”No; I inherited a moderate fortune from my father. It was only within a short time that I learned from my guardian that it was lost. I left the boarding school where I was being educated, and came to the city to try to make a living.”
”But surely your guardian would try to provide for you?”
”He is no longer in the city.”
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