"And what have you been doing since you landed here?"
"Selling papers, and doing odd jobs. I couldn't get anything steady."
"Did you try to find me?"
"No," and the gawk of a boy hung his head.
"Why not?"
"Because I—I wanted to make my own way, same as you are doing. But, oh, Nat, it's awfully hard."
"Where have you been staying nights?"
"One night I slept in a doorway, and last night I slept in a park until a policeman came and chased me away."
Fred looked so forlorn and hungry that Nat could not help but pity him. Coming to the city to earn his living had evidently hit Fred hard.
"Had any supper?" he asked, kindly.