"All right, come on."
"I live across der street, an' I just come home fer me grub. I kin take yer ter our rooms if yer want ter come."
"I will tell you what I would like to do, Mickety. I would like to stay here until he comes back, and then follow him."
"Gee! dat's der ticket. Come on right over."
The bootblack led the way across the dirty and crowded street, and into an alleyway.
"Me home is back dere," he said, pointing to a rear tenement. "I don't suppose yer want ter come in, if yer goin' ter watch fer dat man."
"No, I will stay here," returned Ralph.
"I'll git a bit of grub an' den come out ag'in," said Mickety.
He ran off, leaving Ralph alone. The crowd of street children looked at the country boy, but they had seen him talking to Mickety, with whom they were well acquainted, and they did not offer to ask Ralph any questions or tease him, as they might an utter stranger.