utes 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.

"Get on to de dude!" remarked one boy, who was loosely attired in a
ragged shirt and tattered trousers.

"He means me, Mike," said Rodney with a smile.

"I say, Patsy Glenn, what do you mean by callin' me friend Rodney a
dude?" demanded Mike angrily.

"Coz he's got a dandy suit on."

"What if he has? Wouldn't you wear one like it if you could!"

"You bet!"

"Then just let him alone! He's just got back from de inauguration."

"Where'd you pick him up, Mike?"

"Never mind! He's one of us. How much money have you got in your pocket
Rodney?"

"Thirty two cents."

"He can't put on no frills wid dat money."

"That's so. I take it all back," and Patsy offered a begrimed hand to
Rodney, which the latter shook heartily with a pleasant smile.

That turned t