? ? ? ? "Not exactly that, Mike, but it will make me comfortable. By the way, as I have so much more than you, it will only be fair for me to pay the whole rent."
? ? ? ? "No, Rodney, you mustn't do that."
? ? ? ? "I shall insist upon it, Mike. You would do the same in my place."
? ? ? ? "Yes I would."
? ? ? ? "So you can't object to my doing it."
? ? ? ? "You are very kind to me, Rodney," said Mike, who had the warm heart of his race. "It isn't every boy brought up like you who would be willing to room with a bootblack."
? ? ? ? "But you are not a bootblack now. You are a telegraph boy."
? ? ? ? "There are plenty that mind me when I blacked boots down in front of the Astor House."
? ? ? ? "You are just as good a boy for all that. How much did you make last week?"
? ? ? ? "Four dollars salary, and a dollar and a half in extra tips."
? ? ? ? "Hereafter you must save your rent money for clothes. We must have you looking respectable."
? ? ? ? "Won't you adopt me, Rodney?" asked Mike with a laughing face.
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