She was so tired and cold, and her heart so heavy from repeated disappointments, that the tears began rolling down her pale cheeks.
"What is it, my little girl?" unexpectedly some one gently asked.
In unutterable surprise, she looked up into the face of another policeman who was smiling kindly upon her.
Many a warm heart beats beneath the policeman's star, and Rosa's evident sorrow had aroused the sincere sympathy of this one.
"You and the old man step up here out of the wind by this building, and tell me your trouble. Are you lost?"
"No, sir, we ain't lost, but just can't find the way."
"Not lost, but can't find the way? How is it? I don't understand. Maybe I can help you, if you will explain."
At this Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs, and for several minutes could not answer.
At last, with many a pause, the whole story was told.
"And oh," she added, with all the earnestness of which her intense nature was capable, "can you really tell us? Please, oh, please do, for I can't stand it any longer without mother, and she's looking for me, 'cause Jesus paid the fare. I just must go!"