Rosie gave Jack a tight hug, for his sympathy was sweet. Then she shook her head reprovingly. "You mustn't talk like that, Jackie, and you mustn't do things like that, either. You don't want to be a mucker, do you?"
For this once Jack thought that perhaps he did, but, when Rosie insisted, he promised to behave.
From babyhood he had been Rosie's special charge, so now, when the time came, she took him upstairs and saw him safely to bed. Then she herself slipped down to the front porch and there on the steps, in the dark electric shadow, she waited for her friend, George Riley.
CHAPTER V
GEORGE RILEY ON MUCKERS
Rosie had not long to wait, as George's run ended at nine o'clock.
"Sst! Jarge!" she called softly as he bounded up the steps and would have passed her in the dark.
"Is that you, Rosie?"
"Sit down a minute, Jarge. I want to ask you something."
George mopped his head with his handkerchief and drew a long breath. "Whew, but I'm tired, Rosie! I rang up over seventy-five fares three times tonight."