presently.' Saying
this, and without waiting for a reply, he left the room.

Arriving in the street, his first impulse was not only to feel in his
pockets, but with the utmost care to turn them inside out, and to examine
them narrowly.

'Not a copper--pockets to let!' said he, restoring them to their former
condition, after a long and unsuccessful search. 'But this girl must be
looked after; that's settled. Now then,' said he, in a very meditative
mood, 'who's able to do it and _will_?'

This seemed a question not easily answered, for he stood for more than a
minute in profound thought, in endeavoring to solve it; but apparently
making up his mind, he hurried along the street. The direction which he
took was toward the upper part of the city, and he was some time in
reaching his destination, which was no other than Harry Harson's house. He
crossed the court-yard and knocked at the door, which was opened by
Harson.

'I want a word with you,' said Kornicker, abruptly.

Harson told him to come in; led the way to his sitting-room, and pointing
to a chair, told him to be seated.

'I haven't time,' said Kornicker, shaking his head. 'Do you know me?'

'I've seen you, but I can't recollect where.'

'_Here_,' said Kornicker, 'here, in this room. I breakfasted here. I'm
Michael Rust's clerk.'

'Then you can scarcely expect a cordial reception from _me_,' said Harson,
coldly.

'I don't care what sort of a reception you give _me_,' replied Kornicker;
'you may kick me if it will be any comfort to you, provided you only do
what I ask. Michael Rust is dead, and his daughter is now dying, with
scarcely clothes to cover her, or a bed to lie in; without a cent to buy
her food or medicine; without a soul to say a single word of comfort to
her. I wouldn't have troubled you, old fellow,' continued he, with some
warmth, at the same time turning out his pockets, 'if I had a cent to give
her. The last I had I spent in getting a breakfast this morning; and
although it's the only meal I've eaten to day, damme if I would have
touched it if I had thought to have found her in such circumstances. But
since you won't help her, you may let it alone; I'm not so hard run but
that I can do something for her yet.'

Kornicker had worked himself up into such an excitement, owing to Harson's
cold reception of him, that he took it for granted his request was to be
refused; and having thus vented his feelings he turned on his heel to go,
when th