CHAPTER IX
ONLY A STREET WAIF
In the morning Dunston Porter left the hotel early, stating that he would not return until lunch time. The boys and girls took their time over their breakfast, and then started out for a tour of the big stores located on State Street.
Two hours were spent in a way that pleased Laura and Jessie greatly. The girls purchased several things, to be mailed to the folks left behind. Then all walked around to the post-office, both to see the building and to send the things away.
It was while the others were addressing their packages and also some picture postcards, that Dave saw a sight that interested him greatly. Near one of the doorways was a small and ragged newsboy with half a dozen papers under his arm. An older youth had him by the shoulder and was shaking him viciously.
"I say it was a five-dollar gold piece I gave you yesterday by mistake!" the older boy was saying. "I want it back."
"No, it wasn't, mister," the boy answered. "It was a cent, nothing but a cent."
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