However, after lunch I'll look into the matter." As the urchin was too dirty and ragged to eat in the hotel, he was given a quarter of a dollar for his dinner and told to come back in half an hour.

This he did willingly, and a little later Mr.Porter, Dave, and the two girls sallied forth to see what could be done for the homeless boy.
The quest was more successful than they had anticipated.

Mr.Porter knew a certain Mr.Latham, who was in the wholesale fruit business, and this gentleman agreed to give Charley Gamp a job, at two dollars a week and his board.

He was to live with a man who had charge of a warehouse where fruit was unloaded, and was to be sent to night school.
This settled, the waif was fitted out with new clothing and other things, and the boys and girls and Mr.Porter made up a purse for him of twenty dollars.
"You had better put the money in a bank," said Dave.

"Then you can use it as you need it,--or put more to it." "Twenty dollars!" gasped Charley Gamp, when he saw the money.