"And have all my trouble for nothing!"
"You won't have all your trouble for nothing. I want Rose back, and I shall be sure to have the money with me."
Mr. Martin reflected a moment. He knew that he could trust the newsboy's word. Much as he disliked him, he knew that if he made a promise he would keep it, if there was a possibility of his doing so. Fifteen dollars was quite a sum to him, for it was a long time since he had had so much, and such were his shiftless habits, that it would probably be a long time before he would have it, especially if he had to pay for the board of Rose. Again, it occurred to him that if he should surrender Rose, and receive the money, he might steal her again, and thus lose nothing But then it was probable that Rufus would guard against this by removing to a different quarter of the city, and not permitting Rose to go out unaccompanied.
So there was a little conflict in his mind, and finally he came to this decision. He would not surrender Rose quite yet. He wanted to torment both her and her brother a little longer. There was time enough to make the arrangement a week hence. Perhaps by that time the newsboy would be ready to increase his offer.
"Well," said Rough and Ready, "what do you say?"
"I'll think about it."
"You'd better decide now."
"No, I don't feel like it. Do you think I'm ready to give up my little daughter's society, after having her with me only a day?" and he smiled in a way that provoked Rufus, as he knew it would.
"Will you bring her to-morrow?" asked the news boy, who felt that he must hold his anger in check.
"Maybe I'll bring her in the course of a week; that is, if she behaves herself. I must break her of some of her faults. She needs trainin'."