but the craving was satisfied and he felt relieved.

He looked around him with some curiosity, for he had never been in such
a motley gathering before. There were perhaps one hundred and fifty boys
recruited from the street, to about all of whom except himself the term
street Arab might be applied.

The majority of them had the shrewd and good humored Celtic face. Many
of them were fun loving and even mischievous, but scarcely any were
really bad.

Naturally Rodney, with his good clothes, attracted attention. The boys
felt that he was not one of them, and they had a suspicion that he felt
above them.

"Get on to de dude!" remarked one boy, who was loosely attired in a
ragged shirt and tattered trousers.

"He means me, Mike," said Rodney with a smile.

"I say, Patsy Glenn, what do you mean by callin' me friend Rodney a
dude?" demanded Mike angrily.

"Coz he's got a dandy suit on."

"What if he has? Wouldn't you wear one like it if you could!"

"You bet!"

"Then just let him alone! He's just got back from de inauguration."