Before Norris could regain his feet, Richard had unlocked the outer door, and was speeding down the stairs.
"I made a failure of it that time," muttered the shipping-clerk, as he slowly arose to his feet. "But we'll get even yet, and more than even, too!"
Richard breathed a sigh of relief when he emerged once more upon the street.
"I'm glad I found Norris out, any way," he said to himself as he hurried along. "I think I can safely put him down as a bad egg."
Retracing his way down Broadway the boy at length crossed over to Grand
Street, and directed his steps towards the east side.
When he reached the Massanets' it was quarter past nine. Mattie let him in, stating that her mother and her brother had not yet returned.
Frank had told her of the street urchin and the letters, and she was anxious to hear about the result of Richard's visit to Doc Linyard's, trusting it had been good.
Richard related the particulars. He did not mention Norris; and finally the talk drifted around to Pep, the street urchin.
"I feel sorry for him," said Mattie Massanet. "We must find out where he lives, and see if we can't do something for him and his sick father."
"I've been thinking of it," returned Richard. "He is very shy, and wouldn't even tell me his last name. But perhaps when he sees that I mean him no harm he'll grow more communicative."