"The other girl's a little angel, so her mother says, and she ought to know. Rose has got a sullen, bad temper; but I'll break her of it, see if I don't."
"If you ill-treat my sister, it'll be the worse for you," said Rough and Ready, hotly.
"Hoity-toity, I guess I can punish my child, if I see fit, without asking your leave."
"She isn't your child."
"I've got her in my charge, and I mean to keep her."
This was unfortunately true, and Rufus chafed inwardly that it was so. To think that his darling little Rose should be in the power of such a coarse brute was enough to fill him with anger and despair. But what could he do? Was there any way in which he could get her back? If he only knew where she was! But of this he was entirely ignorant. Indignant as he was, he must use conciliating means as long as there was any chance that these would avail anything. He thought of the money he had laid aside, and it occurred to him that Mr. Martin might be accessible to a bribe. He knew that his stepfather was very poorly provided with money, unless he had greatly improved in his habits upon his former mode of life. At all events, he could but fail, and he determined to make the attempt.
"Mr. Martin," he said, "if you'll bring my sister back, and agree not to take her away from me again, I'll give you ten dollars."
"Have you got so much money?" asked Martin, doubtfully.
"Yes."
"Where did you get it?"