The halls were dark and dingy, and there was an unwholesome tenement-house odor. Through one open door Rupert caught sight of a drunken man lying prone on the floor. Evidently the occupants of the house were for the most part of a low class. But when Rupert followed his little guide into the home of his parents on the upper floor, he found respectable, and not squalid, poverty. There was an air of neatness pervading the room, while Harry's parents looked thoroughly honest. Mr. Benton gazed inquiringly at Rupert. "I hope you'll excuse my intrusion," said Rupert, politely, "but your little boy seemed in trouble and I ventured to come upstairs with him." "I couldn't sell my papers," explained Harry. "He took all I had left," indicating Rupert. "You were very kind to my little boy," said Mrs. Benton, gratefully. "Won't you sit down? This is my husband." Mr. Benton was a man of medium size. His features were worn and sad. "Pray take a seat," he said. "We haven't many callers and fewer friends. We can appreciate kindness, as we meet with it so seldom." "Harry tells me you are in the employ of Mr. Lorimer on Third Avenue." "Yes." "He says you are poorly paid." "Five dollars a week can hardly be considered liberal," returned Mr. Benton, with a faint smile. "Mr. Lorimer is a very mean man." "Do you know him?" "Yes. He was my father's partner in Buffalo." "Your father is not in business with him now?" "My poor father died. I have every reason to think that Mr. Lorimer swindled him out of a large sum of money, and brought on his financial ruin." "I am sorry to hear it," said Benton, gravely. "Does he pay other salesmen as poorly as he pays you?" "There may be two or three others as poorly paid, but I think that he knew of my poverty and took advantage of it. At any rate he called me to the office one day, and told me that I must accept a reduction from eight dollars to five or leave his service. You can imagine how I decided. With my wife and child to be supported I had no choice. That was a month since, and my life has been a hard struggle from that time. I have been obliged to let Harry sell papers in the streets, though the poor boy cannot earn more than from ten to fifteen cents a day in that way." "Harry told me that you would have difficulty in paying your rent." "Yes," answered Mr. Benton, despondently. "We lack three dollars of the sum required, and our landlord is a hard man. I am afraid we shall be turned into the street." "If you will allow me I will lend you the amount you need." "But I am afraid I shall not be able to repay you." "I will take my risk of that." "Then I will not refuse. It will lift a burden from my mind. But how can you afford to be so kind? You don't look rich."