"That's where I live," said Martin, pointing to the house. "Won't you go in?"
"Thank you for the compliment," said Ben; "but I've got some important business to attend to, and shall have to be goin'. How's your headache?"
"It's better," said Martin.
"Glad to hear it," said Ben.
Martin, on entering the house, was informed of the ill-conduct of Rose, as Mrs. Waters chose to represent it, and that in consequence she had been shut up in the cellar.
"Keep her there as long as you like," said Martin. "She's a bad girl, and it won't do her any harm."
If Rose had known that an agent of her brother's was just outside the house, and was about to carry back to Rufus tidings of her whereabouts, she would have felt considerably better. There is an old saying that the hour which is darkest is just before day.
CHAPTER XXI.
IN AN OYSTER SALOON.
Rough and Ready had just laid in a supply of afternoon papers, and resumed his usual position in front of the "Times" office, when Ben Gibson came round the corner, just returned from his expedition to Brooklyn, the particulars of which are given in the last chapter.
"What luck, Ben?" asked the newsboy, anxiously.