I was getting deeper and deeper into difficulty and could not see my way
out. Oh! if I had only told my mother the truth, how different my life
might have been! Saturday night was coming, and I did not have any money
to bring home, and I did not know what to do. I thought of everything,
but could not see my way out, when the thought came to me, "Steal!" My
sister was saving up some money to buy a suit, and I knew where she kept
it and determined to get it. That night I entered her room and took all
the money she had saved. No one saw me but God, but the Devil was there
with me, and said, "Isn't it easy? Don't be a coward! God doesn't care."
I knew right down in my heart that He did care, and in after years when
I was wandering all over the States I found out how much He really
cared, and I said, "Praise His name!"

[Illustration: A BACK YARD ON THE BOWERY.]

[Illustration: ONE OF RANNEY'S FORMER HAUNTS.]




CHAPTER III

INTO THE DEPTHS


After I had taken this money from my sister I knew that I was suspected.
I was accused of taking it, but I was getting hardened; I had lost my
job through lying; I was getting tired of home; I didn't care very much
how things went.