“Mr. O’Connor, let me introduce me friend, Mr. Rodney Ropes,” said Mike.

“Could you give me a lodging?” asked Rodney in an embarrassed tone.

“Yes; but I am surprised to see a boy of your appearance here.”

“I am surprised to be here myself,” admitted Rodney.

The superintendent fixed upon him a shrewd, but kindly glance.

“Have you run away from home?” he asked.

“No, sir.  It is my home that has run away from me.”

“Have you parents?”

“No, sir.”

“Do you come from the country?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where have you been living?”

“At a boarding school a few hours from New York.”

“Why did you leave it?”

“Because my guardian sent me word that he had lost my fortune, and could no longer pay my bills.”

“You have been unfortunate truly.  What do you propose to do now?”

“Earn my living if I can.  I have been in the city for about two weeks, and have applied at a good many places but in vain.”

“Then you were right in coming here.  Supper is ready, and although it is not what you are used to, it will satisfy hunger.  Mike, you can take Rodney with you.”

Within five minutes Rodney was standing at a long table with a bowl of coffee and a segment of bread before him.  It wouldn’t have been attractive to one brought up to good living, as was the case with him, but he was hungry.

He had eaten nothing since morning except an apple which he had bought at a street stand for a penny, and his stomach urgently craved a fresh supply of food.

Mike stood next to him.  The young bootblack, who was used to nothing better, ate his portion with zest, and glanced askance at Rodney to see how he relished his supper.  He was surprised to see that his more aristocratic companion seemed to enjoy it quite as much as himself.

“I didn’t think you’d like it,” he said.

“Anything tastes good when you’re hungry, Mike.”

“That’s so.”

“And I haven’t eaten anything except an apple, since morning.”

“Is dat so?  Why didn’t you tell me?  I’d have stood treat at de Boss Tweed eatin’ house.”

“I had money, but I didn’t dare to spend it.  I was afraid of having nothing left.”

When Rodney had eaten his supper he felt that he could have eaten more, but the craving was satisfied and he felt relieved.

He looked around him with some curiosity, for he had never been in such a motley gathering before.  There were perhaps one hundred and fifty boys recruited from the street, to about all of whom except himself the term street Arab might be applied.

The majority of them had the shrewd and good humored Celtic face.  Many of them were fun loving and even mischievous, but scarcely any were really bad.

Naturally Rodney, with his good clothes, attracted attention.  The boys felt that he was not one of them, and they had a suspicion that he felt above them.