But to these the two paid no attention, though both were glad enough to escape into the hallway of the tenement to which the street boy led them.
"Look out for de stairway," cautioned Pep, as they ascended the first flight. "It's mighty rotten, and you kin break a leg widout half tryin'."
Up and up they went, until finally they stopped at the door of a room on the top floor and in the rear.
"Here we are," whispered Pep. "Let me go in alone first, and see how he is."
The street urchin opened the door and went inside. In a moment he reappeared.
"He's asleep," he said. "You can come in."
The room was part of a garret, with a sloping side and a dormer window. Opposite was a large brick chimney with an open fireplace. Near it lay a mattress on the floor, and upon this rested a man.
He was apparently nearly fifty years of age. His face and form were terribly shrunken, and his untrimmed hair and beard and generally untidy appearance made him a repulsive object indeed.
"That's him," whispered Pep. "Glad he's asleep. Hope he don't raise no row when he wakes up."
Just then the man turned and moaned to himself.