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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Teddy and Carrots, by James Otis, Illustrated
+by W. A. Rogers
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Teddy and Carrots
+       Two Merchants of Newpaper Row
+
+
+Author: James Otis
+
+
+
+Release Date: January 23, 2011  [eBook #35046]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEDDY AND CARROTS***
+
+
+E-text prepared by David Edwards, David K. Park, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images
+generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
+
+
+
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+
+
+      Images of the original pages are available through
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+
+
+
+
+
+TEDDY AND CARROTS
+
+JAMES OTIS
+
+
+[Illustration: TEDDY AND CARROTS LEAVE THE "TOMBS."]
+
+
+TEDDY AND CARROTS
+
+Two Merchants of Newspaper Row
+
+by
+
+JAMES OTIS
+
+Author of
+"Jenny Wren's Boarding-House,"
+"The Boys' Revolt," "Jerry's Family,"
+"The Boys of 1745," etc.
+
+Illustrated by W. A. Rogers
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Boston
+Estes and Lauriat
+Publishers
+
+Copyright, 1895 and 1896
+By the Century Co.
+
+Copyright, 1896
+By Estes and Lauriat
+All rights reserved
+
+Colonial Press:
+C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
+Electrotyped by Geo. C. Scott & Sons
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                   CHAPTER I.
+                                                            PAGE
+    A NEWCOMER                                                11
+
+                                  CHAPTER II.
+    THE ASSAULT                                               21
+
+                                 CHAPTER III.
+    THE ARREST                                                31
+
+                                  CHAPTER IV.
+    THE PRISONER                                              43
+
+                                   CHAPTER V.
+    A SUGGESTION                                              56
+
+                                  CHAPTER VI.
+
+    THE TRIAL                                                 67
+
+                                 CHAPTER VII.
+
+    THE WARNING                                               80
+
+                                CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    THE PARTNERS                                              93
+
+                                  CHAPTER IX.
+
+    THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN                                    108
+
+                                   CHAPTER X.
+
+    SKIP'S VENGEANCE                                         121
+
+                                  CHAPTER XI.
+
+    A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT                                      135
+
+                                 CHAPTER XII.
+
+    CARROTS'S CHARITY                                        149
+
+                                CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    A MEDICAL FRIEND                                         162
+
+                                 CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    THE PLOT                                                 176
+
+                                  CHAPTER XV.
+
+    THE CONFLAGRATION                                        187
+
+                                CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    THE CHALLENGE                                            201
+
+                               CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    PROSPERITY                                               213
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+                                                                PAGE
+
+    TEDDY AND CARROTS LEAVE THE "TOMBS"              _Frontispiece_
+
+    "'YOU'D BETTER MIND YOUR EYE, IF YOU COUNT ON STAYIN'
+    ROUND THIS CITY VERY LONG!' SAID SKIP"                        15
+
+    TEDDY IS ARRESTED, WHILE HIS ENEMIES ESCAPE                   29
+
+    "'NOW, THEN, WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOUNG CHAP?' THE OFFICER
+    ASKED"                                                        33
+
+    TEENIE MASSEY'S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS'S RESIDENCE           53
+
+    "'IT WAS JEST LIKE THIS,' SAID CARROTS"                       62
+
+    TEENIE BRINGS THE "COMMITTEE'S" WARNING                       89
+
+    AN EXACT COPY OF THE "COMMITTEE'S" WARNING                    92
+
+    "I SAID I KNEW A BOY, AN' I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP"             105
+
+    "WHY, HE WAS ALL OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER'N YOU
+    COULD WINK!"                                                 117
+
+    CARROTS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY                    127
+
+    TEDDY DEFENDS HIS PARTNER                                    143
+
+    IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER'S WINDOW                              155
+
+    THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR                                171
+
+    "'HOW DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?' TEDDY ASKED,
+    STERNLY"                                                     197
+
+    "'WHAT ARE YOU YELLIN' LIKE THAT FOR?' SAID SID"             209
+
+    "CARROTS DISPLAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MESSRS. THURSTON
+    AND WILLIAMS"                                                217
+
+    PROSPERITY                                                   221
+
+
+TEDDY AND CARROTS.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+A NEWCOMER.
+
+
+"Say, boys, come 'round over here by the fountain, an' I'll show you
+something!" Skip Jellison shouted to a party of his friends who were
+seated on a curbstone, not far from the Newsboys' Lodging House, gravely
+discussing a business proposition which had been made by Sid Barker.
+
+"What's the matter?" Reddy Jackson asked, replacing his fragment of a
+hat.
+
+"Come over here; an' you must be quick about it, or the show will be
+ended."
+
+Skip was so excited that his acquaintances and friends concluded it must
+be something of considerable importance to cause him to move in such a
+lively manner, and they followed him a short distance down the street,
+until it was possible to have a full view of the fountain.
+
+There the cause of Master Jellison's agitation could be seen.
+
+Seated on the edge of the iron basin, with a newspaper parcel unrolled
+in front of him, was a boy, apparently about twelve years of age, who,
+to the newsboy spectators, looked painfully neat and clean. Skip and his
+friends saw that the boy was a stranger in the city.
+
+The newcomer had taken from their newspaper wrappings a small cake of
+yellow soap, and a piece of cotton cloth.
+
+Laying these on the iron edge of the fountain basin, he calmly proceeded
+to wash his face and hands, using a plentiful amount of soap; and then,
+to the intense astonishment of the spectators, applied the impromptu
+towel vigorously.
+
+"Well, that feller's too good for down-town!" Skip said, in what he
+intended for a sarcastic tone. "He b'longs up at the Fif' Avenoo."
+
+"Oh, he's jest got in from the country, an' is goin' to buy Brooklyn
+Bridge," Sid suggested.
+
+"Look at him! Jest look at him!" Skip cried, in mingled excitement and
+anger that the boy should be so criminally neat.
+
+The stranger had taken from his valise of paper a comb, which he calmly
+proceeded to use, the water in the basin serving as a mirror; and then,
+to the surprise and disdain of the spectators, he gave his clothes a
+vigorous brushing with a whisk-broom.
+
+"Well, see here!" and Skip spoke in the tone of one who is uncertain
+whether it is best to laugh or be angry, "that feller's makin' me
+tired. S'pos'n' we go over an' give him a shakin' up, jest for fun.
+Come on!" and Skip led the way across the street at full speed.
+
+The stranger looked up calmly when they approached, but betrayed neither
+astonishment nor alarm; and Skip involuntarily halted a few paces away,
+as he asked, gruffly: "Say, young feller, what're you tryin' to do?"
+
+"Can't you see?"
+
+"I thought I did; but these chaps here made sure there must be some
+mistake about it."
+
+The boy gazed critically at those who were surrounding him, and then
+replied:
+
+"Well, 'cordin' to the looks of the whole crowd, I should _think_ you
+might be s'prised to see a fellow wash his face an' comb his hair."
+
+"Now, don't get too fresh," Sid said, threateningly, as he stepped
+forward to Skip's side. "We didn't come here to git the 'pinion of any
+country jay."
+
+"Then why did you want er know?"
+
+"'Cause. Say, you'd better mind your eye, young feller, if you count on
+stayin' 'round this city very long. There was a chap jest like you come
+down here last week tryin' to put on airs: an' his folks are huntin' for
+him now."
+
+"Well, you needn't be worried anybody'll be lookin' for me, 'cause
+there's nobody wants to know where I am. So go ahead, if I've been doin'
+anything you perfessors don't like."
+
+Sid apparently decided that it was hardly advisable for him to make too
+many threatening gestures, because the stranger was not at all disturbed
+by them, and even seemed disposed to court the possibly dreadful
+encounter.
+
+He finished brushing his clothes, and then packed his "valise," by
+rolling the different articles carefully in the newspaper. Then, instead
+of going away, as Skip and his friends seemed to think he should have
+done as soon as they arrived, he stood with his hands on his hips, as if
+waiting for them to take their departure. For a minute no one spoke, and
+the silence was really painful.
+
+The newsboys were mentally taking the measure of this stranger who
+appeared ready to defy them; and the latter finally asked, impatiently:
+"Well, what're you fellers countin' on doin'? I reckon I'm no great sight
+for you to stand lookin' at."
+
+"Do you live here?" Skip asked.
+
+"I'm goin' to now. Had it tough enough gettin' here, an' don't feel like
+leavin' till I've found out what there is in this city."
+
+"Where did you come from?"
+
+"Up Saranac way."
+
+"Rode down in a parlor-car, I s'pose."
+
+"Then you s'pose wrong, 'cause I walked."
+
+"You don't look it." And once more Skip scrutinised the stranger
+carefully.
+
+"I don't reckon I do. I count on keepin' myself kind er decent. It
+doesn't cost anything for a feller to wash his face, comb his hair, or
+have his clothes clean, an' there's many a time when it'll put him
+through in great shape."
+
+[Illustration: "'YOU'D BETTER MIND YOUR EYE, IF YOU COUNT ON STAYIN'
+ROUND THIS CITY VERY LONG!' SAID SKIP."]
+
+"Goin' to live on the interest of your money, I s'pose?"
+
+"Well, you s'pose right this time," was the quiet reply. "That's my
+calkerlation; but it'll be on what I earn, not what I've got."
+
+"Dead broke?"
+
+"Not quite," and the boy took from his pocket a number of pennies,
+holding them in one hand, while he guarded himself against a possible
+attack. "There were twenty of 'em when I come 'cross the ferry, an' I
+b'lieve none of 'em have got away since."
+
+"What are you goin' to do here?" Sid asked, beginning to fancy that
+possibly this stranger was a boy whom it would be worth his while to
+cultivate; and, in order to show his friendliness, he seated himself, in
+a studied attitude of careless ease, on the edge of the basin, while the
+others immediately followed his example.
+
+"Whatever will bring in money enough for my keep, an' a little over."
+
+"Thinkin' of sellin' papers?" Reddy asked.
+
+"I reckon that'll be 'bout the first job, 'cause I've got to make money
+enough for my supper, or dig too big a hole in my capital."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Teddy Thurston."
+
+"Do you s'pose the fellers down here, what run the newspaper business,
+are goin' to have you comin' in takin' the bread an' butter out er their
+mouths?" Sid asked, angrily.
+
+"No, I don't reckon they will; but you see I'm not after that exac'ly.
+You fellers'll never find me tryin' to get your bread an' butter; but
+I'll tell you what you can count on for a fact," and now the stranger
+spoke in a very decided tone, "I'm reckonin' on stickin' to the
+newspaper business, if there's any money in it, jest as long as I want
+to. I didn't travel all the way down here to get scared the first day.
+You see, I figger it 'bout like this: Sam Thompson, he came to the city
+last summer, an' some fellers--I don't know whether it was you or
+not--made it hot for him. It wasn't more'n a week before he was glad to
+walk back, although he came down in the cars. Now, I thought I'd begin
+right where Sam left off: I'd walk the first way, an' then, perhaps,
+stand a better chance of ridin' the other, if I had to go; but it's got
+to be boys what are bigger than I am to scare me out er the plan. _I've_
+come to stay."
+
+"Oh, you have?" and there was no mistaking the fact that Skip was
+sarcastic. "We may have something to say 'bout that."
+
+"Then you want er talk quick, 'cause after I'm settled down, it'll be a
+pretty hard job to make any trade with me."
+
+"Where you goin' to begin business?"
+
+"I don't know yet. I'll look 'round a while, an' catch on before night,
+somewhere. I reckon there are fellers in this town that would show a
+green hand how to get his papers, an' where the best places were, eh?"
+
+"That's jest 'cordin' to how you start in, young feller," and Sid arose
+to his feet in order to make his words more expressive. "If you want to
+go to work, an' mind your eye, I don't know but it can be done; but you
+won't get along this way. You're puttin' on too many frills--that's
+what's the matter with you, an' they'll have to be taken off."
+
+"Well, perhaps they will," and Teddy turned as if to leave his new
+acquaintances. "You see, I'm pretty green, an' may be countin' on doin'
+too much. I'll try it a spell, anyhow."
+
+"We allers 'low, when it's 'greed a new hand can go to work, that he
+stands treat the first thing."
+
+"Oh, I see! Well, I don't have to do that, 'cause it ain't been 'greed
+yet. When I want you fellers to tell me what I can do, perhaps I may
+come down 'cordin' to your idees; but jest now I've got too much
+business on hand;" and the stranger walked away, as if these young
+gentlemen, who claimed to control the newspaper business of New York
+City, were of no especial importance in his eyes.
+
+"Look here, fellers," Skip said wildly, for he always contrived to work
+himself into a state of intense excitement over the most trifling
+matters, "the way he's goin' on now, he'll be the boss of Newspaper Row
+before mornin', 'less we take a hand in it."
+
+"What are you goin' to do?" Sid asked in much too quiet a tone to suit
+his excited friend.
+
+"Thump his head the very first time he tries to sell a paper, to start
+with, an' run him out er town before ter-morrer night."
+
+"I don't see how you can tackle him now when he ain't doin' anything."
+
+"Of course not; but he brags he's goin' to; an' the first time he tucks
+a bundle of papers under his arm, I'll give him one to remember!"
+
+"Look out you don't git it the same's you did last week, over in
+Brooklyn!" Teenie Massey cried, in his shrillest tones, which hardly
+ever failed to excite Master Skip's anger.
+
+"Don't you mind how I got it over in Brooklyn! I'll tend to my business;
+you tend to yours. If we waited for you to do anything, we'd all be
+bald-headed," was Skip's answer to this taunt; but Teenie was not at all
+abashed. It was his favourite amusement to arouse Skip's anger, and rely
+upon his diminutive stature to escape a whipping; for Master Jellison
+prided himself upon his ability to flog any fellow of his size in New
+York. "You fellers meet me in front of _The Times_ office at noon, an'
+I'll show him up in great shape, 'less he comes to hisself before then,
+which I reckon he will, 'cause he'll never have the nerve to stand up
+ag'in' the whole crowd of us," said Skip.
+
+Meanwhile the stranger was apparently giving no heed to the young tyrant
+who had decided it would be impossible for him to remain in the city;
+but continued on his way down-town, ignorant of, and, perhaps, careless
+regarding, the fact that he was to be debarred from earning a livelihood
+by selling newspapers, if Skip Jellison's power was as great as he would
+have others believe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE ASSAULT.
+
+
+The appearance of the clean-looking boy, even though his clothes were
+rather shabby, attracted no particular attention among the small army of
+newsboys and bootblacks to be found in the vicinity of City Hall Park;
+and Teddy Thurston was enabled to survey the scene around him without
+interruption.
+
+During a few moments he interested himself in what, to the country lad,
+must have been a bewildering scene; and then, mentally "pulling himself
+together," he began to watch the young gentlemen who were selling
+papers.
+
+Near by him were several bootblacks who appeared to be doing a
+flourishing business; and he said to himself, jingling the coins in his
+pocket, as if trying to revive his courage:
+
+"If I had money enough to buy brushes an' a box, I b'lieve I'd black
+boots for a while. It seems as if there was a good deal of profit in it.
+One of those fellows has earned fifteen cents since I stood here, an'
+I'm sure the paper-sellers aren't doin' so well."
+
+Just at that moment a small boy, with particularly red hair, and a
+stubby nose on which was a large smudge of blacking, finished his work
+of polishing a gentleman's boots, and pocketed with an air of
+satisfaction the three extra pennies which had been given him.
+
+Then, standing very near Teddy, he whistled in the most contented manner
+possible.
+
+The boy from Saranac looked at him a moment, as if trying to decide
+whether the city fellow would be willing to give the desired
+information, and then asked:
+
+"Say, what do the brushes cost?"
+
+"I paid Ikey Cain forty cents for these two," the stranger replied
+without hesitation, as he displayed the articles last mentioned.
+"They're good ones. I couldn't have got 'em less'n a dollar down on
+Fulton Street."
+
+"That settles me," Teddy said, as if speaking to himself; and then,
+without particular animation, he inquired, "What's the cost of the
+boxes?"
+
+"Oh, the fellers don't buy these; they make 'em. All you've got to do is
+ask some man in a store for one, an', if he gives it to you, find a
+chunk of wood an' whittle out this top part. It's the blackin' what
+takes the profits off. I paid twenty cents for that bottle last Monday,
+an' it's more'n half gone already."
+
+Teddy ceased jingling his coins, and was about to turn away, when his
+new acquaintance asked: "Was you thinkin' of shinin'?"
+
+"Eh?"
+
+"I mean was you goin' inter the business?"
+
+"No, I can't; haven't got money enough. I reckon I'll have to sell
+papers for a while."
+
+"You'll be jest as rich," the small boy said as he added another smudge
+of blacking to his nose by rub bing it in a thoughtful manner. "You
+see, when it rains, the fellers can sell papers all the same; but we
+have to lay off 'cause nobody wants their boots shined in wet weather.
+Where do you live?"
+
+"Well, about anywhere, now. You see, I jest come down from Saranac, to
+find out how I could earn my livin'."
+
+"What was you doin' up there?"
+
+"I worked for Farmer Taylor a spell, but he wouldn't give me more'n my
+clothes; an' when a feller has to work a year on the farm for sich a
+rig-out as I've got here, it don't seem as if he'd get rich very soon."
+
+"I ain't so sure," the boy with the blackened nose said, as he surveyed
+the stranger. "You seem to be rigged out pretty swell, an' I guess they
+fed you well enough--gave you all you wanted, eh?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I got enough to eat, an' a fair place to sleep in; but it
+seems as though a feller like me ought er have more'n that, if he works
+hard all day for it."
+
+"Well, I s'pose he had; but you see there's a good many times when
+business is dull 'round here, an' if you haven't got the cash to pay
+right up to dots for a room, you'll have a chance to sleep where you
+can. I've been thinkin' of goin' on to a farm, myself; but I don't seem
+to get ahead fast enough to make a break."
+
+Teddy was rather pleased with his new acquaintance. The red-haired boy
+was the first in the city who had treated him with the slightest degree
+of friendliness, and it would have been gross carelessness to neglect
+him.
+
+"What's your name?" he asked, as he moved slowly toward one of the
+benches, with an air which invited the bootblack to sit down.
+
+"Well, it's Joseph Williams; but nobody 'round here calls me that. The
+fellers sing out 'Carrots' when they want me, 'cause you see my hair is
+red."
+
+"Yes, I could tell that in the dark," Teddy said with a smile, as he
+looked at Master Williams's flame-colored head.
+
+"I don't care what they call me. If it does 'em any good to sing out
+'Carrots' whenever I go by, why, let 'em do it. But that's what makes me
+think 'bout goin' to farmin'."
+
+"What is?"
+
+"'Cause they yell so much 'bout carrots. I don't know as I'd like sich
+things, for I never eat any; but it seems as if a feller that's so
+red-headed as I am b'longs in the country."
+
+"I don't know how you make that out."
+
+"Neither do I; but that's the way it looks to me. Must be nice to be
+where there's grass, so's you can get up in the mornin' an' run 'round
+in the fields."
+
+"Yes; but that's what you wouldn't be doin'. If you was livin' on a farm
+you'd have to hustle, an' there's enough work in the mornin' without
+runnin' 'round the fields, I tell you."
+
+"What did you use ter do?"
+
+"Well, first place, I fed the cows. We didn't keep any sheep; but I
+looked after the hosses an' pigs, an' then there was a pesky little calf
+that gave me lots o' trouble. But look here," Teddy added quickly,
+"there's plenty of time for me to tell you 'bout a farm. Jest now I want
+er do somethin' to earn my livin.' Can you show me where to get some
+papers?"
+
+"Are you goin' into the business sure?"
+
+"Only for a little while. I don't count on sellin' papers all my life.
+You see, I 'low to make money enough so's I can go inter somethin'
+reg'lar for myself."
+
+"Oh, you do, eh?" and Master Carrots indulged in a bit of sarcasm.
+"Well, I reckon it'll be a pretty long while before you earn that much.
+You'll be mighty lucky to have all you want er eat, an' a place to
+sleep. What have you got in your pocket?"
+
+"Nothin' pertic'lar. That's my baggage," and, in order to prove his
+friendliness toward the red-haired stranger, Teddy displayed the
+contents of the newspaper parcel, greatly to the surprise of his new
+acquaintance.
+
+"What's that little brush for?"
+
+"Why, to clean my teeth, of course."
+
+Carrots looked at his new friend in surprise which amounted almost to
+bewilderment.
+
+"Well," Teddy asked, "what's the matter?"
+
+"Well, seems as if you was puttin' on a good deal of style for a feller
+that hasn't got money enough to buy the outfit for the bootblack trade."
+
+"I don't know as there's anything so queer 'bout that; but you fellers
+seem to think there's no call to keep yourselves lookin' clean."
+
+"Well, you see, we don't claim to be swells."
+
+"Yes, so I see," Teddy replied; then he added: "Say, these fellers seem
+to be sellin' a good many papers. S'pos'n' you show me where to buy
+some?"
+
+"All right; come along;" and, slinging his box over his shoulder,
+Carrots started across Printing House Square, threading his way in and
+out of the vehicles in a manner which seemed to Teddy almost criminally
+reckless.
+
+More than once, before the short journey was ended, did the boy from
+Saranac fancy he would be trampled under the feet of the horses; but, by
+dint of his own exertions, aided now and then by a vigorous pull from
+his guide, he was soon standing in an ill-ventilated room, where half a
+dozen fellows were clamouring for round flat pieces of brass.
+
+"Here--I don't want those," Teddy said, as Carrots led the way to the
+desk where the disks were being sold.
+
+"But you've got to have the checks if you count on gettin' papers. Give
+me your money. How many do you want?"
+
+"I'll take twenty cents' worth, anyhow, an' see what I can do with them
+as a starter;" and Teddy handed the pennies confidently to his new
+acquaintance.
+
+Carrots laid the coins in front of the busy man at the desk, received
+the bits of brass, and with them went to the counter on which large
+numbers of newspapers were lying, where he received Teddy's first stock
+in trade.
+
+"Find out what the news is, an' yell the best you know how," Carrots
+said, pushing the young gentleman from Saranac toward the street-door;
+and five minutes later the new merchant was following his friend's
+advice to the letter, by crying his wares in such a manner as excited
+the mirth of the other dealers.
+
+"It seems to me I ain't doin' this jest right," Teddy said to himself,
+and then he waited a moment, listening to the more experienced venders.
+
+It was not long before he succeeded in imitating their cries, and had
+already sold four papers when Skip Jellison, who was accompanied by his
+friends Sid Barker and Teenie Massey, appeared in view.
+
+"There he is!" Teenie cried in his shrillest tones. "Now let's see you
+go for him! He's actin' as if he owned the whole town!"
+
+Skip prepared for battle by rolling up his coat-sleeves, and settling
+his dilapidated cap more firmly on his head. Then, running swiftly
+forward, he confronted Teddy as he was on the point of selling a paper
+to a gentleman through a horse-car window.
+
+Skip did not wait to be attacked, for he believed in striking the first
+blow as a means of confusing the enemy; and, before Teddy recognized the
+boy who had threatened him, he received a severe blow in the face which
+caused him to reel backward.
+
+The paper fell from his hand, the horse-car continued its way, and this
+important transaction in news was nipped in the bud, to the serious loss
+of the young merchant.
+
+Teddy was bewildered for an instant, as Skip had expected, and he did
+not recover his self-possession until Master Jellison had struck him
+once more, this time without serious effect, since the blow, being a
+hasty one, glanced from the boy's shoulder.
+
+It sufficed, however, to throw Teddy's stock of papers into the mud of
+the street, thereby ruining several so that they would not sell to
+fastidious customers; and this, more than the injury received, aroused
+Teddy's ire.
+
+The boy from Saranac may have been ignorant concerning the customs of
+the city, but he was thoroughly well aware that it was necessary to
+defend himself; and, an instant later, Skip found he had quite as much
+on hand as he could attend to properly.
+
+Teddy, giving no heed to his wares, struck out with more strength than
+science, and forced his adversary to beat a swift retreat.
+
+"Now you've got it!" Teenie shrieked, as if delighted that Skip had met
+an opponent who was a match for him.
+
+But Skip paid no heed to Teenie, and, raising his fists as an invitation
+to Teddy to "come on," awaited the conclusion of the battle, confident
+as to who would be the victor.
+
+Teddy had no idea of holding back; for this attack was but the beginning
+of a series which was intended to drive him out of business, and it was
+necessary it should be repulsed if he wished to earn his livelihood by
+the sale of newspapers.
+
+Therefore he advanced boldly, and aimed what was intended for a stinging
+blow at his antagonist's face; but it was met by Skip's arm, and, before
+Teddy could raise his hand again, Teenie squeaked loudly and shrilly
+enough to have been heard at the post-office:
+
+"Cops! Hi, fellers, here's de cops!"
+
+[Illustration: TEDDY IS ARRESTED, WHILE HIS ENEMIES ESCAPE.]
+
+Teddy was wholly at a loss to know what was meant by this cry, although
+he understood it was one of warning; and as he looked around to
+ascertain the cause, Skip turned and immediately started at full speed
+across the park, intent only on escaping from the blue-coated guardians
+of the peace.
+
+With a cry of triumph, Teddy followed in pursuit; but before he had
+traversed twenty yards a heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder, and he
+found himself in the clutches of one of the park guards.
+
+"I've made up my mind that this sort of thing's been going on long
+enough," the officer said, shaking the boy from Saranac, as he led him
+toward the approaching policeman. "You little ragamuffins seem to think
+this park's kept for you to fight in, but now I'm going to show you
+what's what."
+
+"Just let me get hold of the fellow who knocked my papers in the mud,
+and I'll show _you_ what's what!" Teddy cried, not understanding that he
+had been arrested. "They aren't goin' to drive me away from this town,
+if I know myself."
+
+"Well, now there won't be anybody able to do that till after you settle
+with the court," the guard said, as he handed his prisoner over to the
+policeman; and Teddy's face grew pale as he realized that his attempted
+entrance into the business community of New York City was to be checked
+in an ignominious manner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE ARREST.
+
+
+The policeman marched Teddy along while he whistled a remarkably merry
+tune, which the young prisoner thought out of place.
+
+If anybody had shown sufficient curiosity regarding him to have asked
+Teddy if he had any friends in the city, his reply would have been that
+he had none; but he would have been wrong, as events proved.
+
+Master Joseph Williams, otherwise known as Carrots, had witnessed the
+affray from a distance, but was not able to take an active part in it
+during the brief time it lasted, owing to the fact of his being occupied
+just at that moment in blacking a customer's boots. But when Teddy had
+been dragged less than a block on the road to his "dungeon cell" by the
+whistling officer, he had completed his task, and, what was more to the
+purpose, received therefor the amount of money which it was customary to
+expect.
+
+Now this boy from Saranac had no claim upon the red-headed,
+blackened-nosed young bootblack; but, despite the fact that Carrots's
+face was not cleanly, and that his general appearance was generally
+disreputable, he was ever ready to assist others.
+
+Slinging his box over his shoulder, he ran to the scene of the assault
+just in time to rescue Teddy's stock of newspapers from beneath the feet
+of a dray-horse, and followed with all speed after the officer and
+prisoner.
+
+Teddy, plunged into a very "Slough of Despond," was suffering himself to
+be taken through the streets like a criminal, when he was startled by
+hearing a hoarse whisper directly behind him; at the same instant his
+hand was grasped by another.
+
+"Say, can't you wriggle out er that cop's fist?" Carrots asked. But
+Teddy shook his head mournfully.
+
+"This is what comes of bein' brought up in the country," the bootblack
+muttered to himself, regretfully.
+
+"Don't lose your pluck," he said aloud. "I'm goin' to stand by you
+through this thing, 'cause it's all come out er that Skip Jellison's
+gang, an' he's forever pickin' on somebody."
+
+"I don't know what you can do," Teddy replied, mournfully, speaking in
+an ordinary tone. Then, glancing around, the policeman noticed that his
+prisoner was holding a conversation with a seeming friend.
+
+"Now, then, what do you want, young chap?" the officer asked.
+
+"Nothin' at all," said Carrots. "It ain't ag'in' the law to speak to a
+fellow, is it, when he's walkin' through the streets?"
+
+"Is this boy a friend of yours?"
+
+"Bet your life he is, off'cer!" Carrots replied, earnestly. "Why, we're
+jest like twins. You don't s'pose I'm goin' to see him lugged away when
+he ain't been doin' nothin' at all, do you?"
+
+[Illustration: "'NOW, THEN, WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOUNG CHAP?' THE OFFICER
+ASKED."]
+
+"If you boys who loaf near City Hall keep on doing this 'nothing at all'
+business, more of you will be arrested before a great while," the
+officer said, grimly. "You seem to think that park's made for you to
+fight in, but it won't take long to show you you're mistaken."
+
+"But this fellow wasn't fightin'," Carrots replied in a positive tone.
+"I was only a little ways off when Skip Jellison come up, hit him a
+clip, an' knocked his papers out er his hands. What kind of a duffer
+would he be if he hadn't tried to square things? The only trouble is, he
+didn't have a chance to do any fightin' before that crooked-nosed park
+guard got hold of him. Say, it don't seem to me jest right that a
+reg'lar policeman should help that gray thing along in the way he's
+actin'."
+
+"Why don't you come up before the commissioners, and give them an idea
+of how the police force of the city ought to be run?" the officer asked,
+sarcastically.
+
+"Well, I would; but you see, I ain't got the time. When a feller's doin'
+sich a business ez I am, it keeps him right down to dots," Carrots
+replied, gravely.
+
+"It's really a pity, the way you must be rushed," the officer said, with
+a laugh; and, made bold by this apparent friendliness, Carrots ventured
+to make a request.
+
+"Say, where are you goin' to take him?"
+
+"Down to the station-house, of course."
+
+"Well," said Carrots, "it wouldn't be any harm if I walked alongside of
+him, an' talked over a little business, would it?"
+
+"It's nothing to me, so long as you don't help him escape."
+
+"You needn't be 'fraid. I wouldn't raise my hand 'gainst you, 'cause
+you're a pretty good kind of a man; an' that sort is mighty scarce
+'round this part of the city."
+
+"I suppose, now that I have won your good opinion, it won't be long
+before I'm a captain, will it?" the officer asked, laughingly.
+
+"If I had my way, you'd be a general before night; but I ain't standin'
+in with the commissioners like I ought to be," Carrots said, with mock
+gravity.
+
+Then--for they were getting dangerously near the station--he whispered
+to Teddy:
+
+"Look here, old man; you want ter keep your upper lip mighty stiff jest
+now, an' I'll get you out er this scrape somehow. I s'pose there'll have
+to be a reg'lar trial down to the Tombs, and I'll bring the fellers
+there to swear you didn't do anything. We'll show up that Skip Jellison
+gang in great shape to-morrow mornin', 'less I can coax you off from
+this cop."
+
+"It's no use to try it," Teddy replied, mournfully. "I reckon I'll have
+to go to prison."
+
+"Now see here, that's just the way! You fellers from the country ain't
+got any sand about you, that's what's the matter. Don't get down in the
+mouth over this thing, 'cause, as I said before, I'm goin' to see you
+through."
+
+"But what can you do against a lot of policemen?"
+
+"Wait and see. P'r'aps I haven't lived in this city a good many years,
+an' don't know how to fix things!" Carrots replied, as if he were
+positive how the matter might be arranged; yet at the same time he had
+not the remotest idea what it would be possible to do toward aiding this
+boy.
+
+Teddy was not reassured by the remark.
+
+Although a stranger in the city, he knew that young Carrots would not be
+able to do very much to help him, and felt sure his business career was
+ruined.
+
+"How much money have you got?" Carrots whispered.
+
+"Not more'n ten cents. You see, I had jest begun to sell papers when
+they nabbed me. How much do you want?"
+
+"I've got enough. I was only thinkin' 'bout you. Here, take this; it may
+come in handy before mornin';" and the bootblack pressed several coins
+into the prisoner's hand.
+
+"I don't want it," Teddy replied, as he attempted in vain to return the
+money. "You mustn't give your cash away like this; an' besides, what
+good will it do me?"
+
+"That's jest what we don't know. It's allers better to have a little
+stuff in your pocket, no matter what happens. I've got your papers, an'
+am goin' to sell 'em, so I'll get my money back. You jest let me run
+this thing, an' see how quick we'll have it shipshape."
+
+There was no opportunity for further discussion, for by this time the
+three had arrived at the door of the station-house, and Carrots, who had
+a wholesome dread of such places, made no attempt to enter.
+
+"I'll see you to-night if they hold on to you; but if the sergeant turns
+out to be an easy kind of a feller, an' lets you go, come right up to
+City Hall to find me."
+
+"I reckon there won't be any chance of his getting on the streets this
+afternoon," the officer said, as he halted for a moment to give his
+prisoner's friend a bit of kindly advice. "He'll have to go down to the
+Tombs for trial in the morning, and if you boys can prove that he wasn't
+really fighting, but only trying to prevent another fellow from taking
+his papers, he'll stand a good show of slipping off. I'll see that the
+case isn't shoved very hard."
+
+"You're a dandy! Next time you want your boots shined, come right where
+I am, an' if I don't do it for nothin' it'll be 'cause my blackin' has
+run out!" Carrots cried, enthusiastically; and then, wheeling suddenly,
+he ran at full speed in the opposite direction.
+
+"It seems to me I'm gettin' a pretty big job on my hands," he muttered
+to himself when he was at Printing House Square once more. "I've
+promised to help that boy out er this scrape, an' don't see how it's
+goin' to be done. The fellers won't dare to go up and say anything
+against Skip Jellison, 'cause he's sich a terrible fighter: guess he can
+get the best of anybody 'round here in less'n three rounds. I wish I
+dared to tackle him! I don't b'lieve he can do as much as he makes out."
+Then Carrots suddenly bethought himself of the papers which yet remained
+under his arm, and added, "Jiminy! I 'most forgot 'bout these. It's time
+they were worked off, or else they'll be too old to sell;" and soon he
+was crying the news again.
+
+Half an hour later, the substitute newsboy was hailed by Teenie Massey,
+who asked:
+
+"What are you up to now, Carrots? Shifted business?"
+
+"Say, Teenie, was you 'round here when Skip Jellison hit that feller
+from the country?"
+
+"Yes; an' if the cops hadn't come along so soon Skip would have been
+sorry he tackled sich a job. I b'lieve that new feller can fight."
+
+"So do I; but he didn't stand any show at all, the way things were.
+These are his papers, an' I'm sellin' 'em for him."
+
+"Where is he now?"
+
+"Jailed."
+
+"Well, that settles him."
+
+"I ain't so sure of it. You know, an' I know, an' all the rest of the
+fellers know, that Skip Jellison didn't have any business to run 'round
+punchin' him jest 'cause he was a new hand. I'm goin' to see if there
+ain't some chance of gettin' him clear."
+
+"What'll you do? Break into the station-house, an' pull him out?" Teenie
+asked excitedly, believing any of his friends capable of doing such a
+thing, because of the style of reading in which he indulged, wherein
+such deeds are often performed, in print, by the smallest and most
+feeble boys.
+
+"Well, I don't count on doin' quite so well as that," Carrots replied,
+thoughtfully rubbing his nose once more, and thereby adding to the
+smudge of blacking which already nearly covered his face. "I kind er
+'lowed we'd get a lot of the fellers, an' go down to court ter-morrer
+mornin' when he's brought up, so's to tell the story jest as it is. The
+judge is bound to let him off then, an' I wouldn't be s'prised if Skip
+Jellison found hisself in a scrape."
+
+Teenie shook his head very decidedly.
+
+"Don't think it can be done, eh?"
+
+"Who're you goin' to get to tell that yarn in court? Skip would about
+knock the head off er the feller that did him that turn!"
+
+"I know that. He _is_ terrible! He's jest terrible!" Carrots replied,
+reflectively. "But I don't see why it is the fellers 'round here let
+Skip jump on 'em so! If three or four of us turned to, we could thump
+him, and do it easy; an' yet all hands lie down like lambs whenever he
+happens to want to wink."
+
+"Why don't _you_ give him a pounding?"
+
+"You see, I can't do it alone. I'd be willin' to go in if anybody'd
+start in with me, 'cause it's got pretty nigh time somethin' was done,
+or else that feller'll own the whole town. Say, will you go down to
+court with me, an' tell what you know 'bout this thing?"
+
+Teenie gazed at his toes several seconds before replying, and then said:
+
+"I don't know whether I'll have time, Carrots; but I'll see you
+to-night, an' let you know."
+
+Carrots muttered to himself as his acquaintance was lost to view among
+the crowd of busy pedestrians:
+
+"That feller's pretty nigh scared out er his life 'bout Skip. There
+ain't any use thinkin' he'll help in this trouble."
+
+Half an hour later, when Carrots had disposed of the stock of papers
+purchased by Teddy, and was congratulating himself, Skip Jellison
+approached, looking very fierce as he asked in a threatening tone:
+
+"See here, Carrots, what is it you are up to now?"
+
+"Me?" Carrots replied, in surprise. "Why, I'm shinin' boots same's
+ever."
+
+"Now don't try to be too smart! You know what I mean."
+
+"Well, if I do I'm a duffer. What _are_ you drivin' at, Skip, anyhow?"
+
+"Ain't you been tellin' what you was goin' to do to help that feller
+from the country that I settled this forenoon?"
+
+"Didn't strike me as if you settled him very much. If he'd had half a
+chance, he'd 'a' settled you."
+
+"You've got to be took down a peg or two," Skip said threateningly, as
+he doubled his fist and brandished it before Carrots's face.
+
+"Want ter git another feller 'rested, do you? Well, I ain't goin' to
+fight."
+
+"You'd better not, if you know what's good for yourself."
+
+"I won't scrap 'cause I don't want to git jailed; but you can't frighten
+me, no matter how bad you jump 'round."
+
+"Look out for yourself, that's all I'm sayin'," Master Jellison replied
+angrily. "I'm watchin' you, an' the very first time you go to meddlin'
+with that feller from the country, what's got to be drove out this city,
+I'll make you sorry for it!"
+
+"It's very polite o' you to give me a friendly warnin'," Carrots
+replied, in the most innocent and pleasant tone.
+
+Skip had nothing more to say, but walked away with a dignity befitting
+one who considers it his mission in life to regulate the business
+affairs of a large city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE PRISONER.
+
+
+Although Carrots had pretended that Skip's threats neither frightened
+nor disturbed him, he was thoroughly uncomfortable in mind.
+
+He knew by past experience what Master Jellison could and would do, with
+no provocation whatever, save only a desire to exercise that authority
+which he had assumed.
+
+Carrots believed, however, that in case of an encounter with a boy who
+was ready and forced to defend himself, Skip would not prove so great a
+master of the "manly art of self-defense" as he claimed to be.
+
+But such a champion had not as yet been found.
+
+Teenie Massey had chanced to be in Brooklyn about a week before the
+arrival of Teddy in the city, and upon his return home he had stated
+that he had seen Master Jellison attack a boy not nearly so large as
+himself, on Pineapple Street in that city, and receive a sound beating.
+
+"He wasn't in it at all, from the time they begun," Teenie had stated to
+his friends; and on more than one occasion he had referred to this
+defeat in the presence of Skip himself.
+
+It is but fair to say, however, that Skip Jellison positively denied
+the truth of any such statement. In explanation of the blackened eye and
+badly swollen lip he brought from Brooklyn, he announced that he had
+been set upon by a crowd of young ruffians.
+
+"Of course a feller's goin' to get some clips when he tackles a dozen or
+fifteen fellers at once," Skip explained to an admiring audience,
+shortly after Master Massey's story had been noised about the streets;
+"but every one of 'em got it worse'n I did, an' it wasn't more'n five
+minutes before all hands were runnin' lickertysplit up Fulton Street. I
+reckon they didn't stop till they got to Prospect Park. Teenie wants to
+make out a good story; but it's all a whopper, an' he knows it."
+
+Now, although Carrots believed that Master Massey had told the truth in
+regard to what really occurred in Brooklyn, Carrots did not feel
+competent to take upon himself the task of cowing the bully; and he felt
+reasonably certain Skip would carry his threats into effect should
+occasion arise.
+
+Carrots was also quite positive the occasion would arise, because he did
+not intend to desert Teddy.
+
+"I'm goin' right ahead with what I 'greed to do," he said to himself.
+"If Skip wants to thump me for it, I s'pose I'll have to let him."
+
+These reflections were interrupted by Reddy Jackson, who asked, as he
+approached and halted in front of Carrots:
+
+"Seen Skip lately?"
+
+"He jest went away. Been' round, kinder reg'latin' the town. Goin' to
+rest hisself, 'cause he's most played out workin' so hard."
+
+"Did he tell you anything?"
+
+"Yes; thought I was rather meddlin' with his business; but I don't see
+how that is."
+
+"Now look here, Carrots; I'm a friend of yours, an' don't want ter see
+any trouble come out er this thing. Skip's jest wild 'bout what you've
+told the other fellers, an' I reckon he'll do as he says if you try to
+help that feller what got 'rested."
+
+"You 'lowed you was a friend of mine, didn't you, Reddy?"
+
+"That's what I said."
+
+"Well, then, why don't you show it by helpin' me stand up 'gainst sich a
+bully as Skip Jellison is, 'stead of comin' here and tellin' me what
+he's goin' to do? To hear some of you fellers talk, anybody'd think he
+was a reg'lar rhinoceros huntin' 'round to eat folks. Now, it's jest
+like this: I've got to help that feller, 'cause I promised him."
+
+"But you don't even know who he is."
+
+"I didn't ask him to write out a history 'bout hisself, an' swear to it,
+so's I could tell you fellers; but he's like all the rest of us, got to
+hustle for a livin', an' has come down here to do it. Now what business
+is that of Skip Jellison's? He doesn't own this town--ain't even got a
+mortgage on it--yet he makes out this feller can't stay, an' tries to
+lick him. Now, I s'pose you think it's mighty smart to try an' shove
+that country feller down?"
+
+"You don't know anything 'bout it, Carrots. He put on more frills this
+mornin' than you ever saw in a circus procession. We ain't goin' to
+stand that; of course not."
+
+"I s'pose it broke your heart 'cause his face was clean, didn't it?" And
+it was apparent from Carrots's tone that he was losing his temper.
+
+"Oh, well, go ahead, an' see how you'll come out, that's all. I jest
+thought I'd tell you so's you wouldn't get into a fuss with Skip; but if
+this is the way you're goin' on, why, let her flicker, for all I care."
+
+"I'm much obliged to you for bein' so willin'; an' when I want another
+favor I'll call 'round an' see you," Carrots replied, as he turned on
+his heel, while Reddy walked rapidly away.
+
+"It looks as if I'd got to put this thing through alone," Carrots said
+to himself; "an' if that's so, it'll be a good idea for me to keep away
+from where Skip is, 'cause if he should get a whack at me, I'm afraid I
+wouldn't be in a condition to do much of anything for a day or two."
+
+Carrots visited all of his acquaintances in whom he felt he could
+confide, trying to enlist their sympathies in the work which he had
+undertaken.
+
+Unfortunately for his purpose, however, he did not find any who were
+willing, simply because of the stranger, to brave the doughty Skip's
+wrath; and nearly every one advised Carrots to "give it up before he got
+into trouble."
+
+Not until nearly nightfall was the well-disposed bootblack willing to
+cease his efforts in this particular direction.
+
+Then he repaired to a certain restaurant on Baxter Street, where he
+appeared to be well acquainted with the waiters, and called for a hearty
+meal of corned beef and potatoes, at the expense of fifteen cents--an
+unusual amount for him, as could have been told by the remark which the
+waiter made.
+
+"Ain't you spreadin' yourself some to-night, Carrots?"
+
+"Well, it does look a little that way; but, you see, I've got a lot of
+business on hand, and I need to be braced up a bit."
+
+"Bought out some other bootblack, or found a bigger line of customers?"
+
+"Well, no; I'm buyin' stocks now. The Wall Street men are kind er 'fraid
+I'll down 'em, an' they're makin' me hustle."
+
+"Oh!--gone into the Stock Exchange, eh?"
+
+"Well, I haven't been any further than the gallery yet; but that's all
+right. You don't want ter put in a piece of pie with this corned beef,
+an' take the chance of a rise in Western Union for the pay, do you?"
+
+"No, I guess not. It would be too much like speculatin'."
+
+"Well, I didn't s'pose you would; but I'm comin' 'round here in the
+mornin' to give your boss some points about runnin' his business,"
+Carrots replied; and, handing over his money, he walked with a majestic
+air into the street.
+
+Having thus refreshed the inner man, Carrots bent his way in the
+direction of the station-house.
+
+It was his intention to ask for an interview with the prisoner who had
+been arrested in City Hall Park, and he felt extremely doubtful whether
+this request would be granted, until he entered the building and
+recognized in the sergeant behind the desk an old customer.
+
+His surprise at meeting a friend, when he had expected to see the stern
+visage of a mere servant of justice, was quite as great as it was
+pleasing; and he marched up to the desk and said, familiarly:
+
+"If I'd knowed you was here, I'd 'a' come before."
+
+"I don't want my boots shined now. See you outside in the morning," said
+the sergeant.
+
+"But I ain't shinin'; I'm on business."
+
+"Oh, you are, eh? Well, what's up?"
+
+"One of the pleecemen 'round City Hall arrested a feller this mornin'
+what had jest walked down from Saranac; an' it's all wrong, I tell
+you,--all wrong."
+
+"He's a friend of yours, I suppose?"
+
+"Well, you can't exactly call him that. I never spoke to him till jest
+before this thing happened. I want ter git him right out, on 'portant
+business."
+
+"I'm afraid you will have to wait a little while, and explain the whole
+affair to the judge in the morning. I haven't any authority to do a
+thing like that."
+
+"Couldn't you fix it with the judge?"
+
+"No, indeed," the officer replied, laughingly. "The best way is for you
+to go to the court yourself, and explain how it happened, unless he is
+really guilty, in which case I suppose he will have to go to the
+Island. I fancy a week up there wouldn't do him any harm."
+
+"But, you see, it was jest this way"--and Carrots assumed an attitude
+such as one takes when about to begin a long story.
+
+"Never mind it now. I can't stop to listen; and, besides, it wouldn't do
+any good."
+
+Carrots looked up as if surprised that an old friend should assume a
+dictatorial tone, and then, suddenly remembering that he had another
+favour to ask, added:
+
+"Well, you can let me see him, can't you?"
+
+"What good will that do?"
+
+"Why, I jest want to brace him up a little. You see, he's pretty green,
+an' he must be feelin' awful bad by this time. I won't stay more'n five
+minutes, if you'll let me see him."
+
+"All right; go down-stairs. You'll find him in one of the cells; and if
+the turnkey says anything, tell him I sent you."
+
+Carrots did not wait for further instructions; but, fearful lest the
+permission should be withdrawn, hurried down the stairs at once, and was
+making a tour of the cells with the purpose of finding his friend, when
+the officer in charge stopped him.
+
+"What do you want here?"
+
+"The sergeant sent me down to see a friend of mine, that's all; an' I'm
+lookin' for him."
+
+"The boy they brought in this noon?"
+
+"That's the very one."
+
+"He's over there; third cell from the end."
+
+Carrots walked quickly to the place, looked in through the grated door,
+and saw Teddy lying on a wooden bench, which served the double purpose
+of a seat and a bed. The young prisoner's face was covered by his hands.
+
+"Come, old man," Carrots said, soothingly, "you ought ter have more sand
+than to give up like this. Besides, ain't I here to help you?"
+
+Teddy leaped to his feet immediately, and came to the door, through
+which Carrots thrust a very grimy hand as he said:
+
+"Shake hands! Brace up, an' have some style about you! I've been
+'tendin' to your business pretty nigh ever since you was gone, an'
+thought I'd jest run in to let you know everything will be all right;
+but you'll have to stay here till mornin'."
+
+"Till mornin'?" Teddy repeated in dismay.
+
+"Yes; that ain't sich a very long while, an' it'll take me till then to
+get things fixed."
+
+"How did they happen to let you in?"
+
+"Oh, you see, the sergeant is an old friend of mine. I've blacked his
+boots, on an' off, for 'most a year."
+
+Then Carrots, with the hope of cheering his friend, began to explain
+what might be done toward effecting the prisoner's release; and when it
+was time to bring the interview to a close, he had so far succeeded that
+Teddy was really quite hopeful, believing there was no serious obstacle
+in the way of his freedom.
+
+Bidding Teddy adieu, Carrots left the station-house.
+
+It was now so nearly dark that Carrots turned in the direction of his
+own home, for the purpose of gaining as much rest as possible before
+beginning what looked like a hard piece of work.
+
+Now Carrots was a householder in his own right, or at least by right of
+discovery.
+
+More than one of his acquaintances had been eager to know where he
+lived; but he avoided all questions on the subject, save to one
+person--Teenie Massey.
+
+In addition to his being a trusted friend, Teenie lived with his
+parents; therefore, when Carrots revealed the secret, it was with the
+knowledge that Master Massey would not wish to share the dwelling with
+him.
+
+To avoid interference, Carrots always approached his home in the most
+cautious manner, and this occasion was no exception.
+
+He walked leisurely along in the direction of Canal Street, as if going
+nowhere in particular, for the purpose of misleading any friends whom he
+might meet; and, on arriving at an alleyway which ran between two shops,
+he halted for an instant to make sure the coast was clear.
+
+He recognized no one in the immediate vicinity, and, wheeling sharply
+around, ran swiftly up the narrow passage, climbed over a board fence,
+and dropped lightly into a yard in the rear of a business establishment.
+
+Here was an enormous collection of packing-cases, some stacked in
+regular order, and others lying carelessly around wherever they might
+have chanced to fall when taken from the shop by the employes. To Car
+rots, however, the yard was as familiar as any of the city streets.
+
+He knew exactly where each case should be, unless, perchance, there had
+been some addition made to the collection since his departure from home;
+and, although it was dark, proceeded without difficulty until he arrived
+at one corner of the yard, where, by pulling out an unusually large box,
+he disclosed a narrow passage running along the side of the fence.
+
+It was not possible to walk upright through this opening, owing to the
+lumber above; but, once Master Carrots arrived at the further end, he
+found as snug and comfortable a dwelling as it would be reasonable for
+any boy in Master Carrots's walk of life to desire.
+
+Two cases, facing each other at an interval sufficiently wide for a
+small person to enter, formed an apartment four or five feet square;
+and, although it was impossible for Carrots even to stand erect, he
+could sit or lie down in a most comfortable fashion.
+
+A small bundle of straw, taken from some of the other cases, made a bed
+for the bootblack; and directly opposite this impromptu couch were
+Carrots's household treasures.
+
+A bottle which served as a candlestick, a cigar-box as pantry in case he
+chanced to lay in a stock of provisions, a well-worn brush, several
+empty blacking-boxes, and a miscellaneous collection of odds and ends,
+were packed in one corner with the utmost neatness.
+
+[Illustration: TEENIE MASSEY'S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS'S RESIDENCE.]
+
+On arriving at his home, Carrots lighted the candle in order to render
+the apartment more cheerful; and then he sat down with his chin in
+his hands, trying to decide how it would be possible to keep the promise
+made to Teddy.
+
+Before he had succeeded in solving the problem, however, a shrill
+whistle was heard from the alleyway, and Carrots muttered to himself as
+he crawled through the passage out from among the boxes:
+
+"I wonder what Teenie Massey wants? A feller that's got so much business
+on his hands as I have can't 'ford to waste a great deal of time with
+visitors."
+
+"Hi! Carrots, are you there?" Teenie asked.
+
+"Of course I am! Where do you s'pose a feller would be at this time of
+night?"
+
+"I'm comin' over!"
+
+"Well, come, then; an' don't make so much noise about it. Nobody knows
+who may be 'round here;" and Master Carrots retraced his steps to the
+packing-case dwelling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A SUGGESTION.
+
+
+It could be understood that Teenie was a frequent visitor by the
+familiar manner in which he threaded his way amid the obstacles before
+reaching Carrots's very retired residence.
+
+"Old man," said Teenie, "this is ever so much nicer a place to live in
+than a reg'lar house."
+
+"Yes," the host replied, grimly; "'specially when the nights are cold,
+or it rains. I s'pose you'd rather have the water comin' in on you than
+not, when you're asleep, wouldn't you?"
+
+"Well, I didn't mean it jest that way," Teenie replied; "but when you
+get in here an' have the candle lighted, it allers seems mighty fine. I
+got mother to let me come down an' stay all night with you."
+
+"There! that's jest what I thought you was up to," Carrots said, in
+rather a cross tone.
+
+"Why, what's the matter? Don't you want me?" Teenie asked in surprise.
+
+"Of course I'm glad to have you come, Teenie; but I am busy to-night,
+an' talkin' with you is bound to upset things."
+
+"What are you doin'?"
+
+"You see, I took the job of gettin' that feller from Saranac out er the
+station-house; an' it's goin' to be a pretty hard one, I'm 'fraid, as
+things are lookin' now. If I can get him clear of the scrape, you'll see
+some fun one of these days, 'cause this thing ain't goin' to stop here,
+I'll tell you that. I only wish I knew what ought ter be done."
+
+"How have you been tryin' to fix it?"
+
+"Well, I've talked with some of the fellers that saw the row, to get 'em
+to go down to court an' tell how it happened; but they're so terribly
+'fraid of Skip they don't dare to say their souls are their own."
+
+"Well, I do," Teenie replied, bravely. "I saw the whole of the scrap,
+'cause I was there before it began."
+
+"Will you tell that when the chap's brought inter court to-morrow
+mornin'?"
+
+"'Course I will, if you'll stand by me in case Skip tries to come his
+funny business; 'cause that's what he says he's goin' to do to anybody
+who helps the feller from the country."
+
+"I'll stand by you, Teenie, if that's what you want; an' if we do get
+Teddy clear, there'll be three of us. Skip won't dare to tackle as big a
+crowd as that."
+
+"No; but you see the feller ain't out, an' I can't figger how it's goin'
+to be done."
+
+"We'll tell the judge jest what we saw."
+
+"I don't b'lieve we'll get the chance. They wouldn't let you go anywhere
+near him, 'less you had a lawyer."
+
+"We've _got_ to fix it somehow."
+
+"Why not get a lawyer?"
+
+"Now you're goin' crazy, Teenie Massey. It costs as much as a dollar to
+get one of them fellows to go to court. They come high!"
+
+"Don't you s'pose you could hire one, an' let him take it out in trade?"
+
+"By jiminy! I never thought of that. I wonder if I couldn't?"
+
+"It wouldn't do any harm to try. I sell papers to a man that would come
+an' 'tend to the whole business, I guess, if you'd 'gree to black his
+boots so many times a week."
+
+"I'd 'gree to black him all over, if he'd do what I want. Where does he
+hang out?"
+
+"I'll show you in the mornin'. Been to supper?"
+
+"Yes; had a little spread up to Delmonico's. It wasn't much, an'
+charlotte roosters an' sich things as that ain't fillin', you know."
+
+"I kinder thought you might be hungry, so I got mother to do up a
+lunch." And Teenie drew from his pocket a small parcel of cold roast
+meat, adding to it from another pocket five boiled eggs.
+
+"Say, we'll have a reg'lar lay-out, won't we?" Carrots said, as he
+surveyed the food with the keenest pleasure.
+
+"Now I reckon you can kind er ease up on your business long enough to
+'tend to this stuff, can't you?" Teenie answered.
+
+"Well, I should say so! You're a brick, Teenie, an' I wish you'd come
+every night."
+
+"Business would have to be pretty good if I was goin' to have such a
+spread as this right along. I've been to supper, so you pitch in."
+
+"S'pose we put it away for a while? It hasn't been so long since I ate
+that lot o' quails, you know; and I can hold on a spell, an' we'll be
+hungry before we're ready to go to sleep."
+
+Teenie was satisfied; and he reclined carelessly in one corner of the
+packing-case home, enjoying himself to the utmost.
+
+Carrots followed his example, and soon the two were busily engaged
+discussing the probable outcome of Teddy's case, as well as the
+possibility of engaging a lawyer upon the condition of his being willing
+to accept the fee "in trade."
+
+Not until a late hour was the lunch disposed of; and then, nestling into
+the straw, the two were ready for slumber.
+
+Owing to the peculiar location of his home, and the necessity of keeping
+his whereabouts a profound secret, Carrots was obliged to arise at a
+very early hour, in order to leave the residence before any of the
+clerks in the shop should arrive. Therefore it was that the host and his
+guest were on the street shortly after sunrise.
+
+Of course it would have been folly to look for the attorney in his
+office at such an hour, and the possibility of doing any business before
+seven or eight o'clock was so slight that Carrots, with the recklessness
+of a spendthrift, invited his friend to a breakfast at Mose Pearson's,
+even though it involved an expenditure of fully one-fifth of his entire
+wealth.
+
+"We'll kind er need somethin' to brace us up," he said, in explanation
+of his generous invitation.
+
+As a matter of course, Master Massey was not proof against the kind
+hospitality, and so he very willingly followed his friend to Mr.
+Pearson's establishment, which was located in the basement of a dwelling
+on Baxter Street.
+
+When the boys, leisurely, and with the air of capitalists, sauntered out
+on the street once more, they looked thoroughly contented with the world
+in general, and themselves in particular.
+
+"We'd better get up somewhere near the lawyer's office before that Skip
+Jellison comes 'round," Teenie said.
+
+Carrots recognized the wisdom of this advice at once; and the two,
+keeping a sharp lookout lest Master Jellison should spring upon them
+unawares, made their way to Centre Street, where for an hour and a half
+they waited in the hallway of the building in which the lawyer with whom
+Teenie was acquainted had an office.
+
+On his arrival it was evident the gentleman did not recognize them as
+two possible clients, for he passed without even a nod to the boy who
+claimed to be his friend, entered the office, and closed the door behind
+him.
+
+"Why, he doesn't even know you!" Carrots exclaimed, in a tone of
+reproach.
+
+"Oh, yes, he does; but you see it's kind er dark in here, an' I s'pose
+he couldn't see my face very well, or he didn't notice."
+
+"What are you goin' to do 'bout it?"
+
+"Wait till he gets settled, an' then we'll go up an' call on him. You do
+the talkin', while I stand back an' 'gree to all you say."
+
+Now that they were where the scheme could be carried into execution,
+Carrots was by no means confident it would be a success, and actually
+felt rather timid about making the attempt; but, urged on by Teenie, he
+finally mustered up courage to open the door of the office. He stood on
+the threshold, gazing first at the attorney and then back at his friend.
+
+"Well, what do you want?" the gentleman asked, looking inquiringly at
+the boy.
+
+This question appeared to restore to Carrots a certain portion of his
+self-possession, and he entered the room, standing in the middle of the
+floor as he beckoned to his friend to follow.
+
+"What do you want?" the lawyer asked again, impatiently.
+
+"Well, you see--I come--we want--"
+
+"Out with it. What did you come for?"
+
+Teenie nudged his friend from behind, as a sign that he should speak up
+promptly; and Carrots, catching his breath much as one does after a
+plunge in cold water, began:
+
+"There's a feller what walked down from Saranac, that's goin' to be took
+inter the Tombs court this mornin' for fightin' in City Hall Park, an'
+we've come to see how much it would cost to hire you to git him out."
+
+"I might defend him, but I couldn't agree to get him out. That depends
+on the judge."
+
+"Well, you could make the talk, an' I reckon when the thing's put up
+right they'll have to let him go, 'cause he didn't do anything."
+
+[Illustration: "'IT WAS JEST LIKE THIS,' SAID CARROTS."]
+
+"Suppose you tell me the whole story, and I shall be better able to
+judge what they may be obliged to do."
+
+"It was jest like this: You see, Skip he come up an' hit Teddy in the
+jaw, and Teddy tried to hit back. Skip let out with a left-hander;
+Teddy warded it off. Then Skip jumped; down went the papers. Skip got
+frightened of a cop; he started to run, Teddy after him, an' Teddy was
+'rested, and that's all there is 'bout it."
+
+"That may be the whole of the story; but I must confess I don't
+understand it yet."
+
+"Why, it's plain enough. You see, Skip he struck out, an' Teddy warded
+it off--"
+
+"Now wait a moment. Tell me which boy is arrested."
+
+"Why, Teddy, of course. You don't s'pose we'd come here if it had been
+Skip? I wish it _was_. He'd stay there a good while, for all _I'd_
+care."
+
+"Who is this Teddy?"
+
+"He's a feller what walked down from Saranac, an' got here yesterday
+mornin'; but jest as he was goin' to sell papers up jumped Skip, 'cause
+he thinks he owns the whole town, an' 'lowed he was goin' to clean Teddy
+right out. Now, I never did think Skip could fight any great deal,
+'cause how was it when he was over to Brooklyn, an' that feller tackled
+him?"
+
+"Try to tell me the story as I want to hear it. You say Teddy was
+arrested?"
+
+"Why, it's worse'n that! He's in the station-house!"
+
+"Certainly; if he is arrested. On what charge was he taken?"
+
+"Eh?"
+
+"I mean why did the officer take him?"
+
+"Why? 'Cause the park policeman said he was fightin'; but he wasn't. He
+was only beginnin'. He might uv licked Skip, too, if they'd let him
+alone. I know by the way he put up his hands."
+
+"Then it seems, according to your story, that he really was fighting."
+
+"How could he, when he hadn't even commenced? Skip hit him, an' knocked
+the papers out er his hands, an' then he was goin' to lick Skip, but
+didn't have time."
+
+The attorney was a patient man, and, possibly, the boy's manner of
+telling the story amused him; therefore he continued asking questions,
+preventing any detailed account of previous quarrels which Skip might
+have had, until he was in possession of all the important facts, when he
+asked:
+
+"Do you know what a lawyer usually charges for such a case as this?"
+
+"Now you're comin' right down to dots!" Carrots said, beginning to feel
+more at ease since the attorney treated him in such a friendly fashion.
+"You see, this feller hasn't got any money, an' I don't claim to be a
+millionaire myself. I know lawyers charge a good deal for doin' a little
+o' nothin'; but I thought if you'd kind er take it out in trade, we
+might make a bargain."
+
+"What business are you in?"
+
+"I shine boots; an' if you'll get this feller out er the scrape, I'll
+come in here an' black your boots every mornin' this year, for nothin'.
+You can't make a better trade'n that if you should look 'round a good
+while."
+
+"That is quite a contract you are proposing."
+
+"I know it; but you see I want ter make it an object for you to get
+Teddy out."
+
+"That can be done only in the proper manner. The question is whether you
+have any witnesses to prove that this boy was not really fighting, and
+that he had sufficient provocation to excuse his trying to thrash the
+other one."
+
+"Sufficient what?"
+
+"Provocation. That is, whether what had been done was enough to warrant
+an attempt to whip this other boy; for, as I understand it, that is
+really what he did try to do."
+
+"Why, of course; he had to. How'd you like it if a feller sneaked up an'
+whacked you in the face when you wasn't doin' anything, an' knocked your
+papers in the mud."
+
+"It wouldn't be very pleasant, I'll admit; but how can you prove that
+such was the case? Who saw the beginning of the trouble?"
+
+"I did, an' Teenie, an' lots of other fellers; but they wouldn't dare to
+tell it for fear Skip might thump 'em. He calls hisself a fighter."
+
+"Then you two are willing to run the risk, and tell your story in court,
+are you?"
+
+"Of course we are; but will you go an' get him out?"
+
+"Suppose I should take this case, and spend an hour or two on it, how do
+I know you would come here each morning to black my boots, as you
+propose?"
+
+"How do you know? Why, ain't Teenie here, an' don't he hear what I say?
+That's enough to make a trade if you've got a witness, ain't it?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose it is," the lawyer replied, laughingly. "I don't see any
+other way for me but to take the case. Go to the Tombs, and wait there
+until I come."
+
+"You'll be sure to be on hand before they bring him down, eh?"
+
+"I won't neglect it."
+
+With this assurance the boys left the office, and, once on the outside,
+Carrots said to his friend, in a tone of relief:
+
+"Well, now that's fixed, an' I guess we needn't bother any more 'bout
+Teddy's gettin' out; but there'll be an awful row when Skip hears what
+we've done, an' you an' I've got to stand right 'longside of each other
+if he tries any funny business. We must look out for him."
+
+This suggestion that they would stand together against Teddy's enemy was
+far from displeasing to Master Massey.
+
+In the seclusion of the packing-case home he could talk boldly about
+what Skip might yet be able to do; but once on the street, where it was
+possible to meet the bully at any moment, the matter assumed a different
+aspect, and he began to realize the danger in which he had thus
+voluntarily placed himself.
+
+"It won't do for us to hang 'round here, 'cause he's likely to come any
+minute," Teenie said, in a tremulous tone. "I think we'd better go down
+to the Tombs, an' then we'll be on hand when the lawyer wants us."
+
+This was a very good idea, and Carrots led the way at a rapid pace, both
+taking heed lest they should accidentally meet Skip.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+THE TRIAL.
+
+
+Carrots and Teenie succeeded in reaching the Tombs without being
+intercepted by Skip; and once there, they were unable to determine
+whether the court was in session.
+
+In the vicinity of the judge's desk a number of men were standing,
+apparently talking on different subjects, and in the seats reserved for
+the spectators a few unfortunate-looking persons lounged.
+
+"Well, the feller ain't been brought in yet, that's certain," Carrots
+said, gazing around the room in a vain search for his new acquaintance.
+
+"Do you s'pose they will put handcuffs on him?" Teenie asked, in a tone
+of awe. "I reckon he'd be jest about crazy if they'd send him up to the
+Island."
+
+"It would start 'most anybody up to take a dose like that; but of course
+it won't happen now we've got the lawyer. I tell you he'll be s'prised
+to see how we've fixed things, won't he?"
+
+"Indeed he will; an' Skip'll be hoppin' mad when _he_ knows. We want ter
+keep pretty close together while we're workin' this."
+
+The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the sergeant who had
+been seen at the station-house, and Carrots went swiftly toward him,
+asking, as he halted in front of the officer:
+
+"Did you bring that feller down yet?"
+
+"He will come in the van with the rest of the prisoners."
+
+"You won't forget that you promised to try an' fix it?"
+
+"I said I would see that the officer wasn't hard on him. I can't _fix_
+anything. Have you got your witnesses here?"
+
+"Yes; Teenie's one, an' I'm another, an' we've hired a reg'lar lawyer."
+
+"You have? Who?"
+
+"A man by the name of Varney."
+
+"Well, if he is coming I reckon you will be all right, unless you have a
+bad case; and from what the roundsman told me the fighting didn't amount
+to much."
+
+"There wasn't _any_ of it! You see, Skip he give Teddy one in the face,
+an' then sent in a left-hander, an' Teddy he--"
+
+"Never mind the story. I don't want to hear it, for I haven't the time,"
+the officer said, as he started toward the judge's bench.
+
+Half an hour elapsed, and then the boys suddenly saw their new friend
+within a sort of iron cage at one end of the room.
+
+"There he is!" Teenie whispered, excitedly. "How do you s'pose he got in
+without our seein' him?"
+
+Carrots stood erect and gazed at the prisoner a moment, as if debating
+whether to approach him or not.
+
+Teddy presented a most forlorn appearance, standing aloof from the
+other prisoners as far as possible, and clinging to the iron bars, his
+usually clean face begrimed with dirt, through which the flowing tears
+had plowed tiny canals until he looked not unlike a small-sized Indian
+in war-paint.
+
+This picture of sorrow made a deep impression on Carrots's tender heart,
+and, regardless of whether he might be able to regain his seat, he
+marched toward the prisoners' cage.
+
+Teddy had seen him coming, and stepped forward in the hope of speaking
+with this boy who had proved himself to be a real friend; but before a
+single word could be uttered, the officer interrupted the visitor by
+saying roughly:
+
+"Get back there!"
+
+"But I've got to talk with that feller."
+
+"Get back there! Do you hear what I tell you?" and he made a threatening
+gesture which was not at all terrifying to the self-possessed Carrots.
+
+"I've got to talk with this feller; he's a friend of mine, an' I ain't
+seen him since last night. He's goin' to get right out, too, 'cause he
+didn't do anything, an' wouldn't have been brought here if he'd had
+sense enough to run when they hollered 'Cops!' It was jest this way:
+Skip, he struck out an' hit him in the face, an' then come in with a
+left-hander--"
+
+Carrots had been advancing while speaking, and at this point the officer
+seized him by one shoulder, spinning him around until he was heading in
+the direction from which he had come.
+
+"If you make any attempt to speak to that boy, I'll put you in with him!
+What are you doing here, anyhow? Are you a witness?"
+
+"Course I am. What else do you s'pose? Why, I've got to tell the judge
+all 'bout how this thing happened. You see, I was right there, an' when
+Skip come in with a left-hander, an' Teddy he warded it off--"
+
+Carrots did not finish the sentence, for the officer gave him a push
+which might have thrown him headlong but for the fact that Teenie
+chanced to be in the way, and thus prevented the fall.
+
+"I guess we'd better get back to the settee," Carrots said, looking at
+the officer an instant, as if to make out whether the latter was really
+in earnest in this last movement.
+
+Carrots was whispering to Teenie his opinion of the officer in charge of
+the prisoners when the lawyer arrived; and then for the first time did
+Teddy's friends learn that court had been in session all the while since
+they entered.
+
+It was a positive relief to see the attorney; and, lest the latter
+should think those who employed him had not followed the directions
+given, Carrots made his presence known by going up to the gentleman in
+the most confidential manner, and announcing cheerfully: "We're here."
+
+"Yes, I see you are. Sit down. I'll call you when you're wanted."
+
+"But are you sure you remember what I told you 'bout how it happened?
+You don't want to forget that Skip jumped in an' hit Teddy in the face,
+and then come in with a left--"
+
+"You shall be asked to tell that story, my boy, presently; but just now
+I don't care to hear it, and haven't the time. Sit down until your name
+is called."
+
+"I'm afraid that lawyer don't 'mount to much," Carrots whispered to
+Teenie as he obeyed the gentleman's command. "It seems like he's puttin'
+on a good many airs, an' don't want ter listen to how the thing
+happened. Now I don't b'lieve any man can fix it with the judge, 'less
+he's got the whole thing down fine."
+
+"The sergeant said he was all right, an' he ought ter know; so I reckon
+we can 'ford to wait," Teenie replied, contentedly.
+
+It seemed to the impatient Carrots as if it must have been nearly noon
+when he heard the clerk call the name "Theodore Thurston;" and, an
+instant later, the young prisoner from Saranac was conducted to the
+dock.
+
+Almost at the same moment Skip Jellison, accompanied by several of his
+most intimate friends, entered the room, and immediately became aware
+that Carrots and Teenie were in attendance.
+
+Without hesitation, and, as if such scenes were perfectly familiar to
+him, Master Skip approached Teddy's friends in an easy, careless
+fashion, as he asked:
+
+"What are you two doin' here?"
+
+"Came down to see how the new feller gets along. Don't s'pose you've got
+any 'bjections, have you?" Carrots replied.
+
+"I don't know whether I have or not."
+
+"Well, after you find out jest give me the word, 'cause we're bound to
+dust whenever you give us the tip."
+
+It was evident to Master Jellison that Carrots was speaking
+sarcastically, and he took no further notice of this insolence, save to
+say, warningly:
+
+"You want to mind your eye, that's all! The feller what tries to help
+that chump along is goin' to get inter trouble."
+
+"Same's you did over to Brooklyn the other day, eh?" Carrots asked
+coolly.
+
+"Wait till I catch you outside, an' we'll see if you've got anything
+more to say 'bout Brooklyn!" And with this threat Master Jellison and
+his friends advanced to a settee nearer the judge, where they seated
+themselves with a great show of what was probably intended to be
+dignity.
+
+"He's come to see if we're goin' to tell anything 'bout the row," Teenie
+whispered; and it could plainly be seen that Master Massey was very much
+frightened regarding the probable outcome of thus attempting to aid the
+stranger.
+
+At that moment Carrots was startled out of his self-possession--although
+he had come especially as a witness--by hearing his name called in a
+loud tone.
+
+Three times the clerk shouted "Joseph Williams," and then Carrots
+exclaimed:
+
+"By jiminy! he means me, doesn't he?"
+
+"Of course he does. Go 'long quick, or else that feller'll be up on the
+Island before they know you're here," said Teenie.
+
+It was necessary the witness should pass Skip Jellison on his way to the
+stand; and, in so doing, he saw Teddy's enemy scowl and shake his fist
+in the most threatening manner.
+
+"Don't get excited," Carrots stopped long enough to say. "You're comin'
+out of it all right, even if you don't feel very good now."
+
+Then he continued on until some one directed him which way to go; and
+for the first time in his life he laid his hand on a Bible, and swore to
+tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
+
+If, as is extremely probable, Skip had come for the purpose of hearing
+what was said, he was disappointed, as are nearly all the visitors to
+the Tombs court, where it is an impossibility for one on the spectators'
+benches to distinguish any remark made either by the judge or the
+witness, unless the latter chances to have a particularly clear voice.
+
+Those inside the railing, however, could understand quite distinctly all
+that was said; and, judging from their mirth, Carrots's examination must
+have been to them an amusing one.
+
+On being asked his name, the witness replied, "Carrots;" and then the
+judge glowered down upon him until he realized that he previously
+answered to that of "Joseph Williams."
+
+After having made the proper correction, and before it was possible for
+any one to ask him a question, Carrots leaned toward the magistrate in a
+confidential and friendly manner, as he began:
+
+"You see, Judge, it was jest like this: Skip he jumped in an' hit Teddy
+one in the face, an' then come back with a left-hander; but Teddy warded
+it off, an' then--"
+
+"Stop!" the judge cried, severely. "When I want you to tell the story I
+will ask for it. Did you see this boy fighting in the park?"
+
+"He wasn't fightin' at all. He didn't have time, for the park policeman
+caught him. You see, it was jest this way: Skip he jumped in an' smashed
+Teddy in the face, an' then come with a left-hander--"
+
+Again was the witness interrupted; and this time Mr. Varney stepped
+forward to where he could say in a low tone to Carrots:
+
+"You must simply answer the judge's questions--not attempt to tell the
+story yourself."
+
+"Yes, sir; but how'll he know what's what if I don't give him the whole
+right through?" Carrots asked in a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Attend to what he says, and don't try to tell anything else."
+
+"What was this boy doing when the policeman arrested him?" the judge
+asked, as he looked sternly at the witness.
+
+"He wasn't doin' nothin', 'cause he didn't have time. You see, Skip run
+as soon as he hit him, an' knocked his papers down, an' then--"
+
+"Did the prisoner go in pursuit of the boy whom you call Skip?"
+
+"Course he did; 'cause, you see, Skip knocked his papers in the mud, an'
+hit him once in the face; an' he would have come in with a left-hander,
+if Teddy hadn't warded it off."
+
+"What was the prisoner doing when this boy struck him?"
+
+"He was sellin' a paper to a man in a horse-car. You see, Skip he 'lowed
+that Teddy couldn't run the business in New York; but Teddy he walked
+'way down from Saranac jest to get a livin', an' Skip don't have any
+right to tell fellers whether they're to work or not."
+
+"Had the prisoner said anything to this boy who struck him?"
+
+"No; you see, he didn't have time. Skip jumped right in an' hit him once
+in the face, an'--"
+
+"Now, don't tell that story again. Had there been any quarrel between
+these two?"
+
+"No, sir; you see, Teddy didn't come in town till this mornin', an' he
+never knew Skip from a side of sole-leather."
+
+"Is he a friend of yours?"
+
+"Well, I s'pose he is," Carrots replied, hesitatingly. "You see, when he
+got into trouble, somebody had to help him out, an' there didn't seem to
+be anybody willin' but me. He ought ter be my friend if I'm goin' to
+black the lawyer's boots a whole year jest to pay for this racket."
+
+"If your honor will allow me, I will tell the story as I have managed to
+extract it--I use the word 'extract' advisedly--from this witness and
+his friend," the lawyer said, as he advanced a few paces amid the smiles
+of all those near the bench.
+
+"Do you wish to explain about your fee?" the judge asked, laughingly.
+
+"Perhaps that is hardly necessary, since lawyers are seldom known to
+refuse anything offered in the way of payment. That was the proposition
+made by the witness and witnessed by his friend."
+
+Then the attorney related what had occurred in his office, to the no
+slight amusement of those who could hear him; and, when he concluded,
+the judge turned to Carrots again, looking very much more friendly than
+before.
+
+"Then you assure me on your oath that the prisoner did not fight with
+the other boy in City Hall Park?"
+
+"Why, no; how could he? He didn't get the chance. You see, Skip hit him
+in the face, an' then come in with a left-hander; but Teddy warded it
+off, and then Skip run. The policeman grabbed Teddy too quick, you see.
+I reckon he'd have paid Skip off in great shape, 'cause I b'lieve he can
+do it."
+
+"Then you admit that he would have fought if he had had the
+opportunity?"
+
+"Of course he would! S'posin' a feller smashed you in the neck, an'
+knocked your papers in the mud, wouldn't you fight? I guess you would!"
+
+"I will do the questioning, and you can confine yourself to answering,"
+said the judge.
+
+"That's all I was doin', sir," Carrots replied, a trifle abashed by the
+change which came over the judge's face at his free manner of speaking.
+
+Then it seemed as if the witness was entirely for gotten. Nobody paid
+the slightest attention to him until fully five minutes later, when the
+lawyer beckoned for him to come down from the stand to where he was
+speaking in a low tone with Teddy.
+
+"You can go now," the gentleman said; "and I shall be curious to learn
+how long you will keep the promise made in regard to blacking my boots."
+
+"Well, what are you goin' to do with Teddy?" Carrots asked, a look of
+disappointment coming over his face as he fancied that the prisoner was
+not to be set free.
+
+"He has been discharged. It is all right now. Go out with him, and be
+careful not to get into any more trouble on the street, for it might go
+hard with you if either came here the second time."
+
+"He's discharged--did you say?" Carrots repeated. "Does that mean he can
+go anywhere he wants to?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Well, you're a dandy! I'll live right up to the 'greement I made, an'
+don't you forget it!" Carrots replied enthusiastically, and then, as the
+lawyer turned away, presumably to attend to his own business, the
+amateur Good Samaritan led Teddy from the room, closely followed by
+Teenie, who said, when they were once more on the outside of the
+building:
+
+"It won't do to loaf 'round here. Skip Jellison an' his gang were jest
+gettin' up when I come out. They'll be after us if we don't dust 'mighty
+lively."
+
+"Let's go down by the ferry, where we can kind er straighten things, an'
+see what we 're goin' to do," Carrots suggested.
+
+Teddy was not disposed to run from the enemy; but his companions
+insisted it would be more than foolish to risk an encounter, and he
+allowed himself to be led away at a rapid pace.
+
+"Why not go over to your house, Carrots?" Teenie asked. "They'll never
+find us there."
+
+"I couldn't get in without somebody seein' me, an' I don't want to give
+the snap away, else the whole thing will be broke up. We can do all the
+chinnin' we want ter 'round the ferry."
+
+"Seems to me I ought ter go to work. I can't 'ford to fool so much time
+away now, after I've been kept still so long," Teddy said, gravely. "I
+came here countin' on makin' money enough every day to live on, an'
+began by losin' my stock the first thing."
+
+"You ain't lost it yet. I sold every one of your papers, an' have got
+the money in my pocket to give you."
+
+"You're a mighty good feller, Carrots; an' if ever I can do anything to
+help you, I'll be glad of the chance."
+
+"All I ask is that you stand 'longside of me when Skip an' his crowd
+come 'round, 'cause I'll need a friend pretty bad then."
+
+"He sha'n't touch you when I'm near; but I don't see how it's goin' to
+be stopped, if they 'rest fellers for fightin' in the city," Teddy
+replied, in a tone of perplexity; and straightway the three were plunged
+into a maze of bewilderment that the law should interfere by arresting a
+fellow when he attempted to defend himself, and allow the beginner of
+the trouble to go free.
+
+It seemed to be one of those tangles in the web woven by Justice which
+older heads than theirs have failed to unravel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE WARNING.
+
+
+As a matter of course, business was not to be thought of on this day,
+and for two very good reasons.
+
+First, there was every cause to believe Skip Jellison and his followers
+would do all they could to prevent the boy from Saranac from engaging in
+any business; and secondly, because it seemed absolutely necessary
+Carrots and his friends should discuss the situation.
+
+The boys were forced to earn such food as they might need, or go hungry,
+and yet Skip Jellison would try to prevent their doing business on the
+street.
+
+Of course they could stand up and battle for their rights, probably
+receiving assistance from some of those boys whom Master Jellison had
+disciplined by the same methods pursued with Teddy; but such a struggle
+would hinder their business affairs.
+
+If it became necessary to fight every time Teddy sold a paper, not only
+would the money-making be sadly curtailed, but danger of arrest would be
+very great.
+
+"I reckon I wouldn't get off as easy if I was hauled up before that
+judge ag'in," Teddy said to his companion when the two had taken leave
+of Teenie Massey, and were walking in the direction of the water-front.
+"But I don't see how I'm goin' to get along without fightin', 'less I'm
+willin' to lie right down an' let Skip Jellison tread on me."
+
+"See here!" Carrots said, suddenly, as if believing he had a thoroughly
+good plan in mind. "You've allers lived on a farm, haven't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, now I have an idea it would be nice to stay in the country.
+S'posin' you an' me go right off an' get a job on some farm. That would
+settle Skip in great shape, an' we'd have a mighty good time."
+
+"It would settle Skip, there's no question 'bout that," Teddy replied.
+"But when it comes to havin' a good time, you'd find you'd made a big
+mistake. I've had all the farmin' I want. A feller never'd get ahead in
+the world if he worked round for nothin' but his board an' clothes on a
+farm."
+
+"You can't get even that much in the city, 'less you have money to start
+a reg'lar stand."
+
+"That's jest it! That's jest what a feller wants to do! He ought ter
+make up his mind he's goin' to have a place, an' buy it. After that he
+can 'low to have a store, an' get one, too. All he has to do is to work
+hard, an' save his money for a while."
+
+"I don't know 'bout that," Carrots replied, with a grave shake of his
+head. "I've tried as hard as any feller to get 'long, but don't own
+more'n ninety cents in the world to-day."
+
+"Well, I'm going to try it in the city till I make up my mind it can't
+be done, an' p'rhaps then I'd be willin' to go out on a farm; but it'll
+be a good while before that time comes, Carrots. Where are you goin'
+now?"
+
+"Down on one of these piers, where we can talk without Skip's crowd
+sneakin' up on us."
+
+By this time they were near Fulton Ferry, and Carrots had but little
+difficulty, familiar as he was with the locality, in finding what he
+sought.
+
+A pile of merchandise near the end of a pier afforded many convenient
+openings in which two boys could stow themselves snugly away without
+fear of being seen; and, entering one, Carrots proceeded to make himself
+comfortable by crawling to the very farthest corner, and there lighting
+a cigarette.
+
+"Say, you're an awful good feller, Carrots," Teddy began, as if he had
+suddenly made a very important discovery. "You've taken right hold to
+help me, jest the same's if we'd allers knowed each other, an' done a
+good deal more'n any chum of mine I ever had. Now, I don't see any way
+to pay you back yet awhile."
+
+"I don't want to be paid back," Carrots replied, decidedly. "I tried to
+help you through this thing, 'cause it was a shame to let Skip Jellison
+have his way, as he allers counts on; an' what I've done isn't much."
+
+"Indeed it is. I'd been on my way to jail now, if you hadn't taken hold
+of this thing. We've got to straighten matters somehow. In the first
+place, I want to give back the money you handed me when I was 'rested."
+
+"Better keep it. It may be two or three days before we can do any
+work."
+
+"But I'd rather start square," Teddy replied, as he counted out the
+pennies which he had kept carefully apart from his own hoard, and
+literally forced them upon his companion.
+
+"Well, if you're goin' to square up so straight, I've got a little
+settlement to make," and Carrots began a problem in arithmetic, using a
+bit of smooth board as paper, and making the figures thereon with a very
+short fragment of a lead-pencil. "Now, I sold them papers of yours, and
+here's the money," he added.
+
+"But some of 'em was so muddy you could not have sold them," Teddy
+objected.
+
+"Yes, I did; every one. You see, I wiped the mud off, an' then folded
+em' inside, so's it wouldn't show. It don't pay to let papers spoil jest
+'cause there's a little dirt on 'em."
+
+"But it isn't right I should take it," Teddy replied, gravely. "You
+stopped your work yesterday and to-day jest to help me along, an', of
+course, haven't earned a cent. Now, the best way will be to give me what
+I paid out for the papers, an' take the profit yourself, 'cause it
+really b'longs to you."
+
+"I won't do anything of the kind," Carrots replied, in a tone of
+determination. "It ain't certain as I should have worked yesterday."
+
+"Course you would. You'd begun when I first saw you, an' had earned some
+money."
+
+"Well, then, that's jest it! I got enough yesterday to keep me, an' by
+night we'll have some plan to get the best of Skip Jellison."
+
+Teddy insisted that his companion should take the profits resulting from
+the sale of the newspapers, and Carrots quite as strongly refused to do
+anything of the kind; therefore the matter necessarily remained
+unsettled, the boy from Saranac holding the money in trust, as it were.
+
+"Have a cigarette?" Carrots asked, with the air of a man of leisure, as
+he pulled several from his pocket.
+
+"I don't want any, Carrots. I never smoke."
+
+"What?"
+
+"I don't smoke, and what's more, I ain't goin' to. After all you've done
+for me, it seems kind er tough that I should turn 'round an' talk to you
+'bout spendin' money; but there's one of the very reasons why you ain't
+got a stand. Instead of hustlin' to make a nickel, you spend one buyin'
+cigarettes, or else waste a good deal of time standin' on the street
+smokin'. It would make a big difference if you didn't like sich things;
+an', besides, it hurts a boy to smoke 'em."
+
+Carrots looked at Teddy in surprise.
+
+He failed to understand why a fellow could not amuse himself smoking
+cigarettes, and was thoroughly bewildered to hear an argument made as to
+the expense.
+
+"Well, I'll be jiggered! It looks to me like as if you'd come down here
+tryin' to be awful too good. I wish I had money enough to buy a glass
+case to put you in. I reckon I could sell the lot up to the museum."
+
+"That's right; laugh jest as much as you've a mind to, Carrots. You
+can't make me mad after all you've done; but what I said is true, jest
+the same, an' don't you forget it."
+
+"All right," Carrots replied, placidly. "I reckon it won't cost very
+much till these're gone; so s'posin' we talk 'bout how we're going inter
+business? Skip's got it in for me now, an' I'll have to shin 'round as
+lively as you do."
+
+"There's only one thing 'bout it. We must 'tend to work the same's if he
+wasn't livin'."
+
+"But he'll jump down on us, an' then we'll get into another fight."
+
+"I s'pose that's so. Ain't there some place in the town jest as good for
+paper-sellin' as 'round the City Hall?"
+
+"Well, I don't know. You see, I've allers worked there, an' am 'quainted
+with the fellers, so it seems to me it's 'bout the only spot. If you
+should try down by South Ferry, or 'round here anywhere, everybody'd do
+their best to drive you out, same's Skip did. I _b'long_ up to City
+Hall, so they can't shove me away from there; an' the bootblacks in any
+place else would raise a row if I come takin' trade away."
+
+"It don't seem as though they'd dare to do such things," said Teddy,
+thoughtfully. "You've as much right on one street as another."
+
+"That's the way I s'pose it looks to a stranger; but it ain't so, jest
+the same. Now if a new feller come where I was workin' I'd turn in with
+the others to drive him off, of course."
+
+"Then how does a new boy like me start?"
+
+"He has ter hustle, an' take it rough, same's you're doin'. When the
+others find out you're bound to stick, they'll let you alone."
+
+"Then, in that case, the sooner we 'tend to business the better. If
+we're goin' to have a row, let's get over with it as soon as we can."
+
+"That's what I was countin' on; but I'll tell you we'd better not work
+to-day. It's no use to rush, an' by to-morrow Skip'll be over his mad
+fit a little, most likely. He won't do anything but hunt for us till
+night, an' in the mornin' he'll need money so bad he'll have to go to
+work."
+
+Teddy realized that Carrots's advice must be good, since he was
+thoroughly acquainted with the ways of the city; yet at the same time he
+was impatient because of the enforced idleness when it seemed necessary
+he should be at work.
+
+Then Carrots proceeded to explain to his newly-made friend some of the
+peculiarities of his associates, and gave him an insight into their
+manner of living.
+
+"Now I'm countin' on your takin' half of my house," Carrots said. "You
+see, you've got either to go to the Newsboys' Lodging House, or else
+hire a room somewhere, if you want ter swell, an' that's dreadful
+expensive. When the weather ain't too cold, boys can sleep 'round 'most
+anywhere."
+
+"How does it happen that you have a house? Do you live with your folks?"
+
+"I ain't got any, an' never had; but the place where I stop is mighty
+swell, I can tell you, though we can't go home till after dark, 'cause
+I don't want the folks what hire the property to think I came for the
+rent."
+
+Teddy was mystified by this reply; but thought it advisable not to ask
+for particulars.
+
+"I suppose you get your grub anywhere?" he said, interrogatively.
+
+"Yes, when I've got the money. When I ain't, I go without. Seein' 's how
+neither of us has had any breakfast, what do you say to huntin' for a
+place where we can git five-cent soup?"
+
+This seemed to Teddy like a necessity, inasmuch as he had had neither
+supper nor breakfast, and a few moments later the boys were busily
+employed over two plates of soup.
+
+When the meal was ended the two, whose only business on this day was to
+keep beyond the reach of Skip Jellison, walked up-town that Teddy might
+see as much of the city as possible during his enforced idleness, and
+they did not return until a late hour.
+
+After a great many precautions, and an unusual amount of scurrying to
+and fro, Carrots conducted his friend to the residence in the rear of
+the shop, and was delighted by hearing it praised in no stinted terms.
+
+"It's great!" Teddy said, approvingly. "A feller that's got a place like
+this don't need to hire any rooms. I'd rather have it than a reg'lar
+house, any day."
+
+"So had I," the proud proprietor replied; "but one thing is that you
+can't get here in the daytime. I reckon if they knew a feller was livin'
+in these boxes, they'd fire him out."
+
+Then Carrots brought forth such of the provisions as had been left over
+from the previous evening's feast; and before he had finished this task
+a shrill whistle from the alleyway caused him to leap to his feet
+quickly, as he exclaimed:
+
+"Now, there's Teenie Massey ag'in! I do wish he'd stay away once in a
+while. There won't be any room for three of us to sleep here, an' I'm
+goin' to tell him so."
+
+As he ceased speaking Carrots gave vent to a prolonged whistle, and a
+few seconds later the sound as of some one climbing over the fence told
+that Master Massey was in what might be called the vestibule of
+Carrots's residence.
+
+It was evident that Teenie was not wholly at ease when he made his
+appearance. Even one who had never seen him before would have understood
+there was something on his mind, and he greeted his friends in such a
+peculiar manner as to cause Carrots to ask:
+
+"What's the matter with you? Ain't any of your folks dead, is there?"
+
+"Oh, I'm all right," Teenie replied. "What made you think there was
+anything wrong?"
+
+"Why, you look so--kind er queer."
+
+Teenie was silent for a few moments, as if revolving some weighty
+question in his mind, and then, with the air of one who is determined to
+have the worst over, said:
+
+"Look here, Carrots! I've allers been a friend of yours, ain't I, even
+if I have stood in with Skip Jellison once in a while?"
+
+[Illustration: TEENIE BRINGS THE "COMMITTEE'S" WARNING.]
+
+"Course you have, Teenie. What's troublin' you?"
+
+"You might think I wasn't actin' jest square, so I wanted to have it
+straight."
+
+"Have what straight?" Carrots asked impatiently.
+
+"'Bout how you an' I stand. Now, you see, I met Skip this afternoon--"
+
+"Didn't tell him where I lived, did you?" Carrots asked, sternly.
+
+"Course not. What do you take me for? But he had a good deal to say
+'bout you."
+
+"If he don't ever hurt me any worse'n he can with his tongue, I reckon
+I'll get along all right."
+
+"He says he's goin' to drive both of you fellers out er the city, if he
+don't do anything else the rest of the year."
+
+"Then he'll have a chance to get through with a good bit of loafin', for
+we're not goin' to get up an' dust jest to please him."
+
+"But he's awful mad."
+
+"That don't hurt me any. He can boil over if he wants to, for all I
+care."
+
+"Well, now, Carrots, he wanted me to do somethin', an' I couldn't get
+out er promisin'."
+
+"What was it?" the host asked, impatiently.
+
+"You won't get mad?"
+
+"Course not, 'less you're givin' somethin' away ag'in me."
+
+"He wanted me to bring a letter down here. You see, he kind er thinks I
+know where you live, an' so he told me I'd got to take it. I couldn't
+help myself, Carrots, 'cause he hung right on, an' jest as likely's
+not he'd have given me a thumpin' if I hadn't done it."
+
+"Oh, that's all right. Fish up your letter."
+
+Teenie drew from his pocket a piece of soiled paper and gave it to
+Carrots, who, with the candle in his hand, opened it carefully and with
+an air of the utmost gravity.
+
+Fortunately, so far as the better understanding of this story is
+concerned, the important document was preserved by Teddy; therefore we
+are enabled to give an exact copy of it:
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  beWArE
+  GiT or Dy
+  this is the LArst
+  WORnin
+  THe NeX tiMe
+  Comes
+  Deth.
+  the ComMiTE]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE PARTNERS.
+
+
+It was fully five minutes before Carrots succeeded in deciphering the
+letter brought by Teenie, and then he pretended to treat the matter as a
+huge joke.
+
+"Why, Skip must have spent pretty nigh the whole day gettin' up that
+thing," he said, as he handed the missive to Teddy. "I wonder what he
+made the moon there for?"
+
+"Moon?" Teenie repeated. "Why, he told me it was a skull, with a dagger
+underneath it and with bones on the sides, same's pirates have on their
+flags; an' the two coffins was for you an' the other feller."
+
+"Who are the two duffers down there at the bottom? A couple of pirates?"
+
+"No; they're the committee," Teenie explained. "I s'pose one of 'em's
+Skip, an' the other's Sid."
+
+"So Sid's taken a hand in this; _he's_ gone to drivin' boys out er the
+town, has he? Well, Sid's a nice plum to do anything of the kind! 'T
+isn't more'n a month ago since he was gettin' right down on his knees,
+coaxin' Skip to let him stay to black boots. It would be a mighty long
+while before I'd ask Skip Jellison to 'low me to do anything!"
+
+"Them two are awful thick now. Kind er stand in pardners, I reckon. Sid
+says he's goin' to run Fulton Ferry on the Brooklyn side, an' Skip's to
+take care of this end, as soon as they drive the feller from Saranac
+away."
+
+"Oh, they are, eh? Well, p'rhaps it'll be a good while before they
+finish up the job they've got on hand, so I guess they won't hurt
+theirselves workin' this season. What do you think about it, Teddy?"
+
+The young gentleman from Saranac made no reply, but folded the paper
+carefully and put it in his pocket, as if for future reference.
+
+"What're you goin' to do 'bout it?" Teenie asked, so earnestly that
+Carrots looked at him suspiciously.
+
+"Do 'bout it?" the latter replied. "Why, let him go ahead. What else can
+we do? I've seen a good many better-lookin' pictures than he made there,
+an' if that's all he does he won't hurt anybody."
+
+"But see here, Carrots: Skip says you'll have to leave this town if you
+stand in with Teddy, an' he's goin' to make it awful hot."
+
+"Well, I s'pose if he can do that he will; so what's the use talkin'
+'bout it? We can't help anything, as I see."
+
+Teenie understood that his friend was not absolutely satisfied regarding
+his connection with the matter, and therefore refused to make any
+explanation as to what his future course might be. This lack of
+confidence troubled the messenger; for Carrots was a particular friend
+of his, and he did not wish anything to impair the kindly feeling
+existing between them.
+
+So he was glad when Carrots said:
+
+"I ain't blamin' you, Teenie; but I can tell you one thing sure: what
+ain't known can't be told. If Skip Jellison should 'low he was jest
+about goin' to thump the life out er you if you didn't repeat everything
+I said, why, you might have to give up. So I don't think it's best for
+us to have any talk. Of course I'm sure you won't tell where I'm
+livin'."
+
+"I wouldn't say a word 'bout that, Carrots, an' you know it."
+
+"I b'lieve you, Teenie, I b'lieve you; but you understand how things are
+workin'. Teddy an' me are in a pretty bad hole jest now, an' we've got
+to be careful. If you could kind er tell us once in a while what Skip
+was thinkin' of doin', it might help along; but I won't ask it in case
+you're 'fraid, 'cause I don't want ter get any other feller in a
+scrape."
+
+"I'll do all I can, Carrots; an' now I reckon I'd better be goin'.
+Mother told me I must come home to-night."
+
+"All right, old man. Be sure, when you get on the street, that Skip
+ain't watchin' so's to find out where you've been."
+
+"He can't be 'round here, 'cause I went up to supper first, an' walked
+right down from the house without seein' him."
+
+Then Teenie took his departure, and the victims of Master Skip's wrath
+were left alone to discuss the situation, which was certainly beginning
+to look serious for them.
+
+"Now what do you think 'bout it?" Carrots asked, after seeing Teenie
+over the fence.
+
+"Well, I don't see as it's any different from what it was before. We
+knew he was bound to drive me away, an' it wasn't likely he'd stop after
+what little he's done. Now, Carrots, there's jest this much about it:
+you wouldn't be in any fuss with him if it wasn't for me, an' you can
+square things up this very minute by sayin' you've shook me. Why not do
+it?"
+
+"'Cause I kind er like you, Teddy, an' then, ag'in, I wouldn't give Skip
+the satisfaction of knowin' he'd made me do what he wanted."
+
+"Better that than have to go out of the business."
+
+"I sha'n't do anything of the kind. I reckon you an' I can fix things up
+somehow, an' I'll tell you what I'd like, Teddy. It seems as if you knew
+how to manage better'n I, an' why wouldn't it be a good idea to go inter
+pardnership? I can earn as much money in pleasant weather blackin' boots
+as you will by sellin' papers, an' I'll 'gree not to spend a cent more'n
+you. You shall take care of the cash, an' say what we'll have for
+grub, an' all that sort of thing."
+
+"You want us to go inter business, eh?"
+
+"That's jest it. 'Teddy an' Carrots.' My name don't sound very well.
+Might call it Joseph; but then nobody'd know who you meant."
+
+"It ought ter be 'Thurston an' Williams,' of course. Pardners don't use
+their first names."
+
+"Now you've struck it?" Carrots cried in delight. "Is it a whack?"
+
+"It is," Teddy replied gravely, and thus was a very weighty matter
+settled: a business connection formed which might possibly not receive
+any great amount of attention from the newspaper reporters, but a solid
+one in the opinion of the members composing the firm.
+
+"Then here's the money we've got on hand," and Carrots emptied his
+pockets immediately. "You keep the whole an' we can tell every night
+jest how we stand."
+
+"But you mustn't put in all your money, Carrots. You see, I haven't got
+as much, an' that wouldn't be fair."
+
+Then Teddy counted his wealth, which consisted, including the profits
+made on the newspapers, of forty-three cents.
+
+"That's the size of it. You put in jest as much, an' we'll start fair,"
+said Teddy.
+
+Carrots insisted that it would be better for him to contribute the
+entire amount of his capital; but Teddy refused to listen to anything of
+the kind, and, finally, the question was settled by the cashier's
+putting into one particular pocket, which was to be reserved for the use
+of the firm, the sum of eighty-six cents.
+
+"Now, then, when are you goin' to work?" Teddy asked, with a
+business-like air. "It won't do for us to spend this money for grub,
+'cause we shall want somethin' to eat to-morrow. What do you say to
+tryin' it 'round South Ferry?"
+
+"If we do that, Skip will be sure he has driven us out. I think we'd
+better go right up to City Hall, an' start in straight; but the first
+thing is, where'll we live?"
+
+"What's the matter with this place?"
+
+"I ain't so certain but Teenie'll give the snap away. If Skip gets hold
+of him he can make him tell 'most anything."
+
+"No need of movin' till we find out that Skip really knows where we are.
+I ain't so sure but it would be a good idea to stay right here, anyhow,
+an' let him do whatever he can."
+
+"But you see, he'd tell the folks in the store, an' they'd drive us
+out."
+
+"That might be," Teddy replied, thoughtfully. "But we've got plenty of
+time to think it over. Now what we want is to earn a news-stand the very
+first thing. Then we'll have to get a chair outside, an' you could tend
+shop while I was selling papers anywhere trade happened to be the best."
+
+"Won't that be fine!" Carrots cried in a tone of enthusiasm. "How the
+fellers' eyes would stick out if we were runnin' a reg'lar shop!" But
+then he added, reflectively, "I don't see how that's goin' to be done.
+It's been a pretty tight squeeze for me to get enough to buy grub with,
+to say nothin' of swellin'; an', if that wouldn't be swellin', I don't
+know what to call it!"
+
+"'Tend right to your work, Carrots, an' don't spend money on cigarettes,
+or such things as that, an' it won't take long to get what we need. I
+don't reckon one of them stands costs any more'n ten dollars."
+
+"Ten dollars!" Carrots exclaimed. "Why don't you buy the City Hall an'
+start in in great shape? Ten dollars! Why, we couldn't earn that much in
+a month!"
+
+"Well, s'posin' we couldn't? S'posin' it took two months? Wouldn't that
+be better'n the way you're workin' now?"
+
+"Yes, I reckon it would; but I don't b'lieve we'd ever get that much
+together."
+
+"You do as I want you to, an' we'll see what'll happen. Now, look at it
+jest this way, Carrots: if you made twenty-three cents for me yesterday
+afternoon sellin' papers, s'posin' you put in the whole day at it,
+couldn't you have made more'n fifty cents?"
+
+"I could do better'n that blackin' boots, even when business wasn't
+good."
+
+"Well, there you are! If you earn fifty cents, an' enough to buy grub,
+an' I do the same, it wouldn't take us but ten days to have the money we
+wanted."
+
+Carrots rubbed his nose reflectively, thereby adding to the smudge of
+blacking which now extended nearly from ear to ear; and, noticing it,
+Teddy asked, earnestly:
+
+"Say, why don't you wash your face?"
+
+"What would be the good of that?"
+
+"You'd look more decent, anyhow. I b'lieve folks'd rather buy things of
+a feller who's clean, than of one lookin' like an Injun."
+
+"But when a man has his boots shined, he doesn't care whether my face is
+white or red, so long's he gets a polish."
+
+"You ought ter care, Carrots. Isn't there any water 'round here?"
+
+"Yes; there's a hydrant in the other corner of the yard."
+
+"Take this piece of soap an' my towel, an' go over there. Try it once,
+an' see how much better you'll feel."
+
+As he spoke, Teddy unrolled his newspaper valise, took from it the
+articles mentioned, and handed them to his friend, who looked at the
+collection in a suspicious sort of manner, as if questioning whether it
+would be exactly safe for him to make the experiment suggested.
+
+"I'll do it! By jinks! I'll do it jest once for luck!" he said; and five
+minutes later the operation had been completed.
+
+Carrots, with every freckle showing on his face, his skin glowing from
+the unwonted use of soap and water, and a broad streak of dirt left just
+in front of his ears and extending under his chin, returned to the
+dwelling almost shamefaced.
+
+"There! if you feel as much better as you look, you must be jest humpin'
+yourself," Teddy said, admiringly. "Only you didn't wash far enough
+back."
+
+"What's the matter now?" Carrots asked in surprise.
+
+"It seems to me as if you'd shoved the dirt back instead of washin' it
+off."
+
+"Well, see here, Teddy: I did this thing to please you, didn't I?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I've sworn off now. I don't b'lieve in puttin' on frills anyhow,
+an' all this talk 'bout water makin' you feel good is all in your eye.
+If we've got to earn ten dollars in ten days, I reckon it'll take all my
+time shinin', 'stead of tryin' to look so mighty fine that a man'd think
+I wouldn't dare to pull the stopper out er a blackin'-bottle for fear of
+smuttin' my fingers. I s'pose if I lived on a farm, same's you did, I'd
+wash when I saw the others, an' then it wouldn't come so unhandy. That's
+where I wish I was now--in the country," he added, as he clasped his
+hands around one knee and rocked himself to and fro on the impromptu
+bed.
+
+"You wouldn't wish that very long if you had one taste of it."
+
+"I ain't so sure of that. I tell you, when a feller's got a bed to get
+inter, an' plenty of stuff to eat, it's a pretty soft snap. I'd like to
+try it 'bout a month."
+
+"That would be long enough," Teddy said; and then, by way of putting an
+end to the conversation, he nestled into the straw as if to go to sleep.
+
+Carrots moved about very gingerly, as if his whole nature had been
+changed by the washing of his face.
+
+At last he blew out the candle, snuffed the glowing end with his thumb
+and finger, and followed his friend's example.
+
+Next morning Carrots was aroused by the sun shining upon his face, and,
+after awakening his friend, he explained why it was necessary for them
+to leave the packing-case home at such an early hour.
+
+From the Company's funds was spent sufficient to buy two bowls of soup;
+and then, advised by Carrots, Teddy agreed to remain in the vicinity of
+South Ferry, rather than to make an attempt to do business around City
+Hall Park, until Master Jellison's anger should have had time to
+subside.
+
+"I'll see you when you come up for the afternoon papers," Carrots said
+as they parted. "But you can count on my hustlin' the best I know how
+toward gettin' to-day's share of the ten dollars."
+
+"Be sure you don't have any trouble with Skip," Teddy cautioned his
+friend, and then the two separated, each intent on swelling the
+Company's funds to the greatest possible extent before night.
+
+When noon came, and it was necessary for Teddy to replenish his stock,
+he failed to find his partner around the newspaper offices.
+
+This absence of Carrots did not trouble him particularly, since Teddy
+was quite confident the boy was attending to his own business; and he
+felt positive it would not be safe for him to search very long after the
+missing partner, lest he should encounter the enemy.
+
+Therefore it was that he returned to his labors without consultation
+with his business associate; and when it was so late that there could be
+no danger the occupants of the store would see him entering the dwelling
+in the corner of the yard, he again clambered over the fence.
+
+Master Carrots was at home, and, as could be told from his face,
+labouring under the most intense excitement.
+
+"I've done it!" he cried to Teddy before the latter had time to speak.
+"I've done it, an' we'll have to give up the pardnership business,
+'cause this is the best chance I'll get."
+
+"Done what?" Teddy asked in surprise.
+
+"Got a place to work on a farm."
+
+"Are you goin' to leave the city?" Teddy asked, anxiously.
+
+"I'll have to, of course, if I do that. You see, it happened this way:
+Every feller I met this mornin' told me what Skip had threatened to do,
+an' I reckon he means business. He says we've both got to leave this
+town before he goes to work ag'in, an' what's more, he an' Sid Barker
+wouldn't let me stay 'round Printin' House Square at all. I had to take
+a sneak, or else stand the chance of gettin' 'rested for fightin', so I
+went down to Vesey Street Market. Trade wasn't so awful good there, an'
+I was kind er loafin' 'round when a farmer come up an' says, 'Hello,
+son. Don't know of any boy 'round here what wants to go out in the
+country, do you?' Well, you know, that struck me jest right. I said of
+course I knew a boy, an' I showed him right up, 'cause it was me, an' I
+hadn't far to go to find myself. Well, the farmer acted as if he was
+tickled 'most to death, an' he said as how I was the very kind of a
+feller he was lookin' for; that he'd give me a good home an' make it
+cheerful; besides, I'd have lots of fun runnin' in the fields."
+
+"How much is he goin' to pay you?" Teddy asked.
+
+"Well, you see, we ain't settled on that yet. He thought I'd better come
+out and try it for a while, so's he could tell how much I was worth, an'
+then we'd talk 'bout wages afterward."
+
+"An' are you willin' to go on them promises?"
+
+"Willin'? Why, it's a reg'lar snap! I'd like to stay here an' try to buy
+that stand with you; but what's the use if Skip's goin' to raise sich a
+row? Besides, if we've got to sneak 'round all the poorest places to
+work, we sha'n't make enough to pay for our grub, an' out there I'll
+have all I can eat."
+
+"Well, Carrots, I'm sorry to have you go jest when we've got acquainted,
+an' it seemed as though we'd get along well together; but if you're set
+on farmin', you'll have to try it, I reckon. I'll stay here an' keep on
+workin', so's when you get ready to come back there'll be somethin' to
+eat, 'less Skip Jellison succeeds in doin' what he counts on."
+
+"I may drop 'round in a month or two, jest to see how you're gettin'
+along," Carrots replied, with an air of condescension; "but of course
+I'm bound to stay out there a year anyhow, when I start in once."
+
+"When are you goin'?"
+
+"To-morrow noon."
+
+"Come down to South Ferry before you go, an' when you get back, Carrots,
+I guess you'll find me at the same place, 'cause trade was pretty fair
+to-day."
+
+[Illustration: "I SAID I KNEW A BOY, AN' I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP."]
+
+"Oh, you'll be up 'round City Hall by that time."
+
+"It'll take me longer'n a week to get things straightened out, an' you
+won't stay there six days, 'less you're a different feller from what I
+think you are," Teddy replied, with an air of conviction that surprised
+his friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.
+
+
+It seemed absolutely necessary for Carrots to talk at great length about
+the farm, before he was willing to settle down to business as his
+partner wished; and then the two made a hearty supper from a Bologna
+sausage, some buns, and some seed-cakes, which the proprietor of the
+house had purchased in order to prepare a "parting feast."
+
+"Well, now, let's come down to the business that's got to be settled,
+Carrots," Teddy said, gravely, as he took from his pocket a collection
+of coins. "You want back the forty-three cents you paid inter the
+concern, an' then, of course, what you made to-day all goes to yourself.
+I don't have any interest in it."
+
+"That ain't the right thing to do. I took in sixty-five cents, an' half
+of it belongs to you."
+
+"There's no need of dividin' it, 'cause I made fifty-two myself; so let
+each feller keep his profits, an' it'll be fair. Now here's the rest of
+your money," and Teddy pushed toward him a small pile of nickels and
+pennies.
+
+"I don't want to take it," Carrots objected, mournfully. "When I'm away
+I'd rather think some of my money was here, an', p'rhaps, when I come
+back on a vacation, I'll need a little. Then you can let me have it."
+
+Teddy would have preferred to settle the business at once; but Carrots
+appeared so anxious to have a pecuniary interest in the city, that he
+said in conclusion:
+
+"Well, we'll let it go your way, Carrots, an' when you come back I'll be
+here, 'less somethin' happens to me."
+
+Then the two talked further of the farm, and suddenly Carrots was
+reminded of a very important piece of business.
+
+"Well, I'll be jiggered! If I didn't forget all 'bout that lawyer! Now
+it wouldn't do to slip up on him, would it?"
+
+"Of course not."
+
+"Why couldn't you go over every mornin' and fix the thing?"
+
+"I can, Carrots, an' I will. It's no more'n right, 'cause you made the
+debt on my account, an' I ought ter pay it. Say, I don't s'pose you'd
+care if I should use your box while you're gone, would you? I've been
+thinkin' perhaps by carryin' the outfit with me I might get a chance to
+black boots when business was dull."
+
+"Of course you can; but you must keep your eye peeled pretty slick,
+'cause the fellers don't like to see a boy try to run both kinds of
+work, an' they'll be apt to make a row."
+
+"I'll risk that part of it. Now, is there anything else I can do for
+you?"
+
+"No; I b'lieve that's all. Of course you'll keep the house? Nobody
+knows of it but Teenie, an' p'rhaps he won't tell."
+
+"I must take the chances of that; but I reckon Skip Jellison's goin' to
+make it mighty hot for me. I'll keep an eye out for him."
+
+By this time the boys were sleepy; and until morning Carrots dreamed of
+the ideal life which he was to lead in the country.
+
+At an early hour next day they betook themselves to the basement
+restaurant on Baxter Street, where Carrots, who fancied he would always
+have plenty of money, now he had been engaged as a farmer, insisted on
+paying the entire cost of both breakfasts; and then the two separated
+with the promise of meeting at eleven o'clock at South Ferry.
+
+During the forenoon Teddy was not interrupted in his labors, perhaps
+because he did not go near the City Hall, and business was so
+flourishing that he felt sorry when Carrots came to say it was time they
+started for the market to meet the farmer.
+
+The young gentleman who was about to take up his residence in the
+country unslung his blacking-box from his shoulder as he said:
+
+"I told that lawyer you'd be there after this, an' he said, 'All right.'
+I don't s'pose he cares, so long's he gets his boots blacked, who does
+it."
+
+"I'll 'tend to him in great shape, so you needn't worry."
+
+Then the two walked briskly along the water-front until they were at the
+market, when Carrots pointed toward an old wagon drawn by two mules, as
+he exclaimed: "That team b'longs out to the farm where I'm goin'. I tell
+you, I'll have them mules lookin' better'n they do now, before next
+week."
+
+"Take care they don't kick you, Carrots; they're great on showin' their
+heels," Teddy replied, warningly.
+
+"I'd like to see the mule that could get away with me," Master Carrots
+said contemptuously; and just then the farmer came out of a neighbouring
+shop, looking around as if in search of some one or something.
+
+"He's after you," Teddy said. "I reckon I'd better say good-by now.
+You'll find me in the packin'-case, if you come after dark."
+
+"It'll be a good while before you see me," Carrots replied, confidently,
+as he shook his friend's hand warmly; and then the two parted.
+
+During the three days following Carrots's departure, Teddy succeeded in
+the work beyond his most sanguine expectations.
+
+He had been careful to remain away from the places most frequented by
+Skip Jellison, but was forced to change his business location several
+times, owing to the trouble which he had with boys who, as Carrots had
+predicted, were jealous because he both blacked boots and sold
+newspapers.
+
+Still, he had succeeded in saving two dollars and twenty-five cents, in
+addition to which he had quite a store of provisions packed snugly away
+in a box, and, as he said in a tone of satisfaction on this third night
+after counting his funds and examining the contents of the larder, "had
+been playin' in mighty big luck."
+
+During all this time he had seen nothing of Teenie Massey, who, now that
+Carrots was away, was the only boy he knew well.
+
+Neither had he met any of the party whom he saw on his introduction to
+the city, and it seemed as if they might not give him any further
+trouble.
+
+"I reckon I can pick up what money I need to start the stand, by keepin'
+on the same way I've begun," he said to himself. "It may be business is
+better 'round City Hall; but it doesn't stand to reason I could earn so
+very much more up there than I'm doin' now, an' shiftin' about so often
+I'll have a better chance for findin' out where a stand ought ter be
+put."
+
+It can thus be seen that Master Thurston was on very good terms with
+himself, and feeling perfectly satisfied with his attempt to earn a
+livelihood in the metropolis. As Carrots had dreamed of the farm, so
+Teddy had often pictured to himself how he would live and conduct his
+business when once the stand was an assured fact; and while in the midst
+of these pleasing anticipations he was startled, almost frightened, by a
+sound as of some person making his way across the litter with which the
+yard was strewn.
+
+His first act was to extinguish the candle, lest the rays of light
+should betray his whereabouts, for he had no doubt that the intruder was
+Skip Jellison, with, probably, a number of followers.
+
+With such thoughts in his mind it cannot be wondered at that he was
+startled beyond the power of speech when he heard the familiar voice of
+Carrots in a cautious tone:
+
+"It's only me! Don't get flustered!" and an instant later the would-be
+farmer was once more inside the packing-case dwelling.
+
+"Good gracious! Where'd you come from?" Teddy cried, after standing like
+a statue for several seconds.
+
+"From the farm; that's where I come from!" Carrots replied, in an angry
+tone.
+
+"Got through so soon as this, have you?"
+
+"You can jest bet your sweet life I have! Why, I wouldn't stay out there
+a month if they'd give me the whole place, an' all the animals there was
+on it! That man was a reg'lar old--old--he's an old skee-sicks, that's
+what he is!"
+
+"Sit down, so's to tell me all 'bout it;" and Teddy relighted the candle
+in order to have a good look at the amateur farmer.
+
+Carrots was disconsolate and discouraged, and the dust on his boots told
+of a long walk over country roads.
+
+"Got anything to eat?" he asked; and even his voice sounded hungry.
+
+Teddy opened the cigar-box refrigerator, revealing to view a plentiful
+supply of provisions.
+
+The newcomer did not need an invitation to begin the meal.
+
+He attacked the food as if he had had nothing to eat since leaving the
+city, and Teddy refrained from asking any questions until his hunger
+should be appeased.
+
+"Well," Carrots said, after an enormous meal, "what do you think of me
+now?"
+
+"I'd say you was hungry, an' I guess that comes pretty nigh bein' the
+truth."
+
+"That's a fact; an' I shouldn't be lyin' so very bad if I told you I
+hadn't had anything to eat since I left. Talk 'bout good livin' in the
+country! Why, a feller'd starve to death there in a week! I never saw
+sich a place! 'Bout the time you go to sleep they call you to get up;
+an' I do b'lieve yesterday it wasn't more'n late in the evenin' when
+that farmer yelled for me to turn out an' feed the stock. Feed the
+stock! Well, now, I'll tell you what--I wanted to feed myself, but
+didn't get the chance!"
+
+"So you found out that livin' on a farm wasn't so pleasant as you
+thought?" Teddy said, laughingly; for he had a very good idea of what
+Carrots's experiences might have been.
+
+"It's a reg'lar swindle an' humbug; that's what it is. An' if all
+farmers are like that old feller I went out with, I don't see how they
+keep anybody with 'em."
+
+"S'posin' you begin at the start, an' tell me all 'bout it?"
+
+"Well, I will." And, arming himself with a few slices of Bologna in case
+his appetite should get the best of him, Carrots began the story. "That
+man was sweeter than pie all the time I was ridin' home with him, an'
+you'd thought he loved me 'most to death till we got to the farm. Then
+I helped unharness them plaguy old mules, an' one of 'em fetched me a
+kick with his heels that left a black-an'-blue spot on my leg bigger'n
+the whole front of the City Hall. I up with a club, an' was goin' to
+knock the life out er him; but the farmer caught me by the collar, an'
+shook me till I thought my head would fly off."
+
+"He wanted to sort of introduce you to the place, I s'pose."
+
+"Well, I reckon he did it pretty well. My heels knocked together like a
+pair of clappers, an' it seemed to me I could hear my head crack, the
+same way a whip does when you snap it. Well, after the old feller got
+through paralyzin' me, an' I was kind er steady on my feet once more, he
+told me to go to work an' clean out the stable. Why, Teddy, the job he
+set me at would have taken three men a month; an' he 'lowed I was to
+have it all done before night! You see, I didn't have any dinner, an'
+had heard so much 'bout how they lived in the country that I thought I'd
+kind er like to sample the cookin'. So I asked him if he didn't think it
+would be best to have some grub before I tackled sich a job as that. I
+don't know what he thought 'bout it, cause he didn't say a word; jest
+walked right away an' left me. Jiminy crickets! How I did sweat! But I
+thought to myself, I'll do my level best so he'll know he's got a mighty
+good man. An' I'll be blamed if when that old duffer came out he didn't
+act as if he thought I must have been loafin'!"
+
+"How long did he leave you workin?"
+
+"From the time we got there till pretty nigh night. Then he said I was
+to go down to the pasture an' bring up the cows. Well, now, I'm a dandy
+to bring up cows! Never saw one before. I wasn't goin' to let on that I
+didn't know the whole thing, so I walked down big as life. He told me
+where the pasture was, an' I cleaned her right out. Took every blamed
+thing in there an' drove 'em up. Well, you jest bet he was mad! He
+wanted to know why I didn't leave the oxen behind, an' what I was doin'
+with the sheep, an' how I ever expected to catch them two colts ag'in? I
+asked him to tell me how I was goin' to sort 'em out when they was
+runnin' all 'round. Said I was hungry, an' didn't have time for sich
+jobs. Why, Teddy, there was one of them sheep what had horns on; I
+couldn't have got rid of it if I'd stayed there a month. Knocked me down
+twice before I could even get the bars fixed. He acted like the goats
+you see up in Shantytown, an' looked a good deal like Skip Jellison in
+the face. I didn't figger on sheep bein' ugly. I wasn't so awful scared
+at first, for I 'lowed he was playin', an' got up soon's I could. The
+next thing I was down ag'in like one of them babies at a fair what you
+throw balls at."
+
+"It was an old ram, I s'pose. I should have thought you'd looked out for
+him."
+
+"You jest bet I did after that; but I hadn't time then, you see. Why, he
+was all over that pasture quicker'n you could wink. After a while I got
+'round by the other side of the fence, let down the bars, an' then
+sneaked up through the bushes till I got the whole lot of 'em inter
+line. Then I kept clubs flyin' so they jest had to scoot, an'
+afterward--an' afterward, Teddy, what do you s'pose?"
+
+"Why, how do I know?"
+
+[Illustration: "WHY, HE WAS ALL OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER'N YOU COULD
+WINK!"]
+
+"That old skinflint said I hadn't any business runnin' cows jest before
+they was milked! I s'pose he thought I ought to stood there and let that
+ram have fun with me. Well, it took him an' me pretty nigh an hour to
+get 'em untangled, an' then he told me to drive 'em back to the pasture.
+I told him I'd go home before I'd trust myself in the lane alone with
+that black-faced sheep of his ag'in. Then he said I couldn't have any
+supper, so I started down once more, picked up plenty of rocks, an'
+after a while got 'em in. Then I came back to the house hungrier'n a
+bear. He had the nerve, after all that, to tell me he was a man of his
+word, an' so long as he'd promised I shouldn't have any supper, he'd
+stick to it. I didn't get any, either! Why, I could have eaten a brick
+that night, if there'd been butter on it."
+
+"Didn't you have a thing to eat?"
+
+"Not so much as a bite. I didn't want to come back an' say I got tired
+in less'n a day, so thought I'd make the best of it, an' p'rhaps in the
+mornin' things would be better."
+
+"Of course then you got your breakfast."
+
+"Oh, yes; then I got my breakfast! Want to know what I had? Well, if
+Mose Pearson flashed up sich grub, an' asked me to pay five cents for
+it, I'd tell him to go off somewhere an' lose hisself. There was three
+slices of some kind er bread all full of hard lumps. It tasted bad when
+you got one of 'em in your mouth. I thought they was plums first, an'
+took four of 'em. You ought ter seen me when I found out my mistake!
+Then there was some fried pork,--an' jiminy crickets! wasn't it salt?"
+
+"Was that all they had?"
+
+"There was a big dish of somethin' I called puddin'. I reckon it was
+made of apples smashed up, an' I guess there was _some_ molasses in it,
+only I couldn't taste any. I spread a little on the bread, an' had to
+eat it, of course. Then I put some on the pork, an' got sick. I was
+through breakfast, an' all hands went outdoors. Why, look here, Teddy;
+it wasn't daylight, an' I'd been up as much as three-quarters of an
+hour! The farmer asked me if I could feed the calf. I told him if the
+calf didn't get any more to eat than I had since I'd been there, I could
+feed him an' not half try. That made him kind er mad; but he didn't say
+much, an' showed me how to go to work. If I had to feed that calf for a
+week, I wouldn't have more'n one hand left, an' not the whole of that."
+
+"I know what it is," Teddy said, sympathetically. "Well, what else did
+you do?"
+
+"Little of 'most everything, till it seemed as if my legs an' arms would
+drop off. Got somethin' to eat at dinner, though, an' that helped along;
+but when I turned in last night--say, Teddy, I allers wanted to know
+what a bed was like; but when you tell 'bout gettin' comfort out er a
+blanket stretched over a lot of ropes, why, I ain't in it at all! When I
+went up-stairs last night it seemed as if I was goin' all to pieces, an'
+I thought of you jest as snug in here as a bug, takin' your comfort
+countin' the money; an' I says to myself, 'The farm's no place for me,
+if my name is Carrots,' so I'll take a sneak'. I got out of the window
+after the folks was asleep, an' I've walked ever since."
+
+"How far was it?"
+
+"A man said it was sixteen miles; but if it wasn't fifty, my name's
+Dennis! Now I'm here, an' I'm goin' to stay. Say, ain't it time to go to
+bed?"
+
+"I reckon it is for you, Carrots; so turn in, an' I'll keep awake a
+little longer. See you in the mornin', old man."
+
+"So long," Carrots replied, sleepily; and almost before the words had
+been uttered his eyes were closed in slumber.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+SKIP'S VENGEANCE.
+
+
+It was necessary to shake the amateur farmer very rudely next morning
+before he could be awakened; and even after he had opened his eyes Teddy
+was obliged to repeat several times the well-known fact that they ought
+to get out of the yard before the shop was opened.
+
+"Seems to me it's taken half an hour to get you awake," he said, "an'
+now it's time we was over the fence. I've got stuff enough for breakfast
+in my pocket, an' we'll eat as we go."
+
+By this time Carrots was fully alive to the surroundings, and in a
+twinkling assumed his old character, which he fancied had been thrown
+off nevermore to be resumed.
+
+As soon as they were in the street, and had begun breakfast while
+walking toward South Ferry, he asked his companion regarding business
+during his absence, and received a most satisfactory reply.
+
+"I've been gettin' along first-class," Teddy said; "an' we've got a good
+big capital to begin on."
+
+"But I'm dead broke," Carrots replied, mournfully. "I spent some of my
+money when I went out with the farmer, an' the rest of it while I was
+walkin' in yesterday."
+
+"You can't be broke so long's you've still kept your interest in the
+firm, an' that eighty-six cents has grown to more'n two dollars."
+
+"But I don't own a share of it."
+
+"Course you do, an we won't have any talk 'bout it either. I 'lowed
+you'd stay longer'n you did, and so wanted you to take the whole of the
+cash; but you wouldn't, an' we're pardners jest the same's if you'd been
+here all the time, 'cause your money was in town even if you wasn't."
+
+"But I didn't do any work, did I?"
+
+"It doesn't make any more difference now than it did when I was locked
+up in the station-house. I didn't work then, but you made me take all
+the profits. It seems to me it would be a good idea to buy another box
+and brushes. I've had such luck with this, an' earned so much more'n I
+did with only the papers, that we'd better keep the two goin'."
+
+"All right," Carrots replied, enthusiastically. "I'll get a new one, an'
+sell papers too."
+
+"Do you s'pose you can buy a box ready-made?"
+
+"I reckon so. Let me have some money, an' I'll snoop 'round City Hall,
+or down to Fulton Ferry. Some of the fellers will know of an outfit for
+sale."
+
+Teddy handed him a dollar as he asked:
+
+"Who'll tend to the lawyer this mornin'?"
+
+"I guess you'd better, 'cause I mightn't get my box in time, an'
+to-morrow I'll start in reg'lar. Where'll I see you this noon?"
+
+"Come down to the ferry."
+
+"I'll be there, sure."
+
+With this promise the two parted, and Teddy, quite as cautious regarding
+the possibility of meeting Skip as ever, went after his morning's stock
+of papers.
+
+Half an hour later he was busily at work when Teenie Massey came running
+towards him, evidently in the highest state of excitement.
+
+"Say, Carrots got home last night!"
+
+"Well, don't you s'pose I know it?"
+
+"Yes; an' so does Skip Jellison."
+
+"How'd you hear of it?"
+
+"Reddy saw him down on Fulton Street, an' Skip's just wild. Says he's
+goin' to thump the head off er Carrots if he shows hisself 'round this
+town to-day. You'd better come right up to City Hall an' see if you
+can't help him!"
+
+"Help who?"
+
+"Why, Carrots, of course. Sid Barker said he told one of the fellers
+that he was goin' up there to work, this forenoon, an' if somebody don't
+stop him, there'll be trouble."
+
+"Skip won't dare to do any fightin' after the fuss with me."
+
+"He says he will; an' he's goin' to smash Carrots's box, so you'd better
+go up."
+
+"It seems as if I'd only make the matter worse," Teddy said half to
+himself. "I don't b'lieve Carrots'll be fool enough to show his nose
+round where Skip is, an' if I go there'll be some kind of a row sure.
+Why can't you manage this thing, Teenie?"
+
+"What could I do?"
+
+"See Carrots, an' tell him to keep away."
+
+"I'll try it," Teenie said doubtfully; "but I don't b'lieve he'll listen
+to me. You see, after I carried him that letter he's got a idea I'm
+standin' in with Skip, an' I ain't at all."
+
+This reminder of "the warning" caused Teddy to think there was more in
+the threat of Master Jellison's than he had at first believed.
+
+The letter which Teenie brought on the day prior to Carrots's departure
+for the farm had for a while escaped his mind.
+
+Now, however, it seemed evident, and only reasonable, that after making
+such a threat Skip should try to carry it into effect.
+
+He was sadly at a loss to know exactly what he ought to do, but urged
+Teenie to go in search of Carrots; and when that young gentleman had
+departed at full speed he muttered to himself:
+
+"It's too bad to knock off now, when business is so good, but I s'pose
+it's got to be done; an' yet I'd be in an awful scrape if I should get
+'rested ag'in for more fightin'."
+
+While he was thus debating in his mind, the meeting which he wished to
+prevent was already taking place.
+
+On leaving his friend, Carrots had visited Fulton Ferry for the purpose
+of calling upon an old acquaintance to inquire if he knew where a
+second-hand box could be found for sale.
+
+It was during this interview that Reddy saw him, and reported the fact
+of his arrival to Skip.
+
+Failing in his purpose at this point, Carrots went boldly up to the City
+Hall with never a thought in his mind of the peremptory order to leave
+town which he had received.
+
+One by one, he greeted the acquaintances whom he met, repeating the
+story which he had already told Teddy relative to his experiences on the
+farm, and asked concerning the welfare of those friends whom he had left
+behind.
+
+As a matter of course, all this required considerable time, and the
+forenoon was nearly half spent when he reached City Hall Park.
+
+Business in the newspaper line was usually dull at this hour, and he
+found quite a party of his brother merchants in the vicinity of the
+park, with apparently no other idea than that of passing the time as
+pleasantly as possible.
+
+Carrots approached as he would have done a week previous, and was soon
+in the centre of the interested throng, who were listening to his views
+of country life in general and his own experience in particular, when a
+stranger approached him and whispered:
+
+"Did you get that box you wanted to buy?"
+
+"No," Carrots replied. "Have you got one to sell?"
+
+"A feller I know of has, an' it's a dandy!"
+
+"Where is it?"
+
+"Down on Rose Street, under the bridge."
+
+"I'll go there in a minute." And Carrots turned to continue his story,
+when the stranger whispered:
+
+"You'll have to come quick, or he'll be gone; and this is the biggest
+trade you ever saw."
+
+It is probable Carrots would not have interrupted himself in the
+pleasing task of describing the incidents which happened on the farm
+during his presence there, but for the fact that he remembered what
+Teddy had said regarding the necessity of being industrious; and
+realizing that he had already wasted more time than his partner might
+approve of, he hurried away with the stranger, without once thinking to
+inquire how the latter could have learned he was in need of a
+bootblack's outfit.
+
+The messenger went rapidly toward the point designated, and Carrots
+followed, never thinking of possible danger.
+
+On reaching Rose Street he saw no boy near the bridge, and was about to
+ask his guide if the alleged owner of the box had not gone to some other
+portion of the city, when he was suddenly seized from behind, and,
+turning his head slightly, he saw Skip's face.
+
+"So you had the nerve to come back here, did you?" Master Jellison
+asked, working himself into a passion, which was not a very difficult
+task for him.
+
+"Come back here? Where else could I go?" Carrots asked, frightened, and
+at the same time determined that the enemy should not see any signs of
+fear on his face.
+
+"It doesn't make any difference to me where you ought ter gone, so
+long's you come here. Now I'm goin' to serve you jest as I threatened.
+Hold him, Sid, while I see what he's got in his clothes."
+
+[Illustration: CARROTS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.]
+
+At this instant Sid, Reddy, and another boy came out from their
+hiding-places, and the transfer of the prisoner was quickly made.
+
+Sid held Carrots by the hands in such a manner as to prevent the
+slightest movement save at the expense of considerable pain, and the
+stranger volunteered to act as sentinel during the punishment.
+
+Skip understood that it was necessary for him to work very rapidly lest
+he should be interrupted by the guardians of the peace, and no
+pickpocket could have been more skilful than he in searching the
+prisoner.
+
+"Here! don't you take that--it ain't mine!" Carrots cried as his enemy
+seized the dollar which Teddy had given him.
+
+"Then, if it ain't yours, I reckon it's mine."
+
+"I'll have you 'rested for stealin' if you don't put that right back!"
+Carrots threatened, struggling in vain to release himself from Sid's
+detaining grasp.
+
+"I reckon you won't be able to do much of anything by the time I get
+through with you," Skip replied, with an exasperating chuckle. "This is
+jest about as much as I need to pay for the swell dinner we fellers
+want; an' when I see the owner I'll give it back to him, if I feel like
+it."
+
+Then, without further parley, he began to beat the helpless boy in the
+most cruel manner, and probably would have continued until Carrots had
+received serious injury had it not been for a warning cry from the
+sentinel.
+
+Master Jellison was very careful of his own precious body. He had no
+idea of allowing himself to be captured, since he might be brought
+before the same judge to whom Carrots had told the story of his attack
+on Teddy; and therefore he delayed his flight only long enough to say
+threateningly:
+
+"Now, if you an' that chump from Saranac don't get out er this part of
+the city before to-morrow mornin', I'll fix you so's you can't even
+wiggle." And, with a blow by way of emphasis, he started at full speed
+toward the water-front, Sid, Reddy, and the sentinel following close at
+his heels.
+
+Poor Carrots was in a sad plight. His nose was bleeding, his cheek cut,
+and his head buzzing like a mill-wheel from the effects of the blows.
+
+He seated himself on the curbstone, and was giving full sway to the
+grief and anger of his heart, when some one touched him gently on the
+shoulder.
+
+Looking up quickly, he saw Teenie Massey, who asked in surprise:
+
+"Why, what's the matter? Did Skip catch you?"
+
+"Yes, he did; an' he stole a dollar that belonged to Teddy."
+
+The enormity of this last offense caused Master Massey more surprise
+than if he had seen his friend in a much worse bodily condition. He had
+feared Carrots might get a whipping, but never believed Skip would be so
+bold as to commit downright robbery.
+
+"How did it happen?" he asked solicitously.
+
+Carrots told his story in the fewest possible words, and concluded by
+making the most dismal and blood-thirsty threats relative to what he
+would do to Master Jellison when the proper time should arrive--all of
+which had but little effect on Teenie.
+
+When from sheer lack of breath the victim was forced to cease speaking,
+Master Massey asked in a matter-of-fact tone:
+
+"Where do you s'pose you'll live now?"
+
+"Where will I live? Why, the same place I allers have, of course."
+
+"But you won't dare to if Skip's goin' to cut up this way."
+
+"I'll have him 'rested for stealin', an' then we'll see how he'll act. I
+guess he'll get sick of tryin' to run fellers out er town!"
+
+Teenie made no reply to this threat because he did not believe it would
+be carried into effect, but said in what he intended should be a
+soothing tone:
+
+"It ain't likely he'll try to do anythin' more to-day, so you'd better
+brace up an' get some of the blood off of your face. I've jest been down
+to tell Teddy what I heard Skip say he was goin' to do, an' you ought
+ter get 'round to the ferry, 'cause he'll be huntin' for you."
+
+"I'm goin' to see that lawyer first, an' find out what can be done with
+Skip."
+
+"Well, you want ter kind of spruce up a bit before you do that, for you
+don't look very fine now, Carrots."
+
+"I'll jest leave the blood all over my face till the judge sees it."
+
+"Then you'll stand a good chance of bein' 'rested for a pirate, 'cause
+you look like one." And Teenie, understanding that it would be useless
+to argue further with Carrots while he was in such a frame of mind,
+believed it his duty to notify the victim's partner that it was useless
+for him to neglect business, since the mischief had already been done.
+
+Leaving the disconsolate victim of Skip's vengeance on the curbstone,
+Master Massey walked slowly toward the City Hall; but before he was very
+far from the scene of the late encounter, he met Teddy.
+
+A few words sufficed to acquaint the latter with all that had happened.
+
+It certainly was discouraging, to say the least, that Master Thurston
+should be obliged to spend so much time just at this hour, when trade
+was most flourishing; but he did not neglect what was manifestly his
+duty, even though it cost him so much in the way of prospective profits.
+
+His first thought on approaching his partner was to attempt to soothe
+him; but after a few moments he realized how useless such a task would
+be, and proceeded at once to more heroic measures.
+
+"Now, see here, Carrots, this won't do at all. It ain't any good for you
+to try to have Skip 'rested for takin' that dollar, an' the lawyer'll be
+mad, jest as likely as not, if you go to him 'bout it. Course it's
+pretty hard to git sich a thumpin'; but it's over now, an' we've got to
+figger how we can git the best of that villain ourselves."
+
+"He's worse'n a villain--he's a heathen!" Carrots yelled.
+
+"Well, call it a heathen then. We'll square up with him before we're
+much older, an' that's a good deal better'n tryin' to get somebody else
+to do it for us. I'll bet he has to give up that money before a week,
+an' we can 'ford to wait two or three days for the sake of doin' the
+thing right."
+
+"I don't see how we'll ever get the best of Skip. He's always got his
+gang with him."
+
+"We'll find some way before long, so you'd better fix yourself up and
+get to work. There's all the more need of hustlin' now we've lost a
+dollar."
+
+"I didn't lose it! It was stole!"
+
+"Well, it's gone, an' we've got to make it up. Now, be a man, an'
+to-night we'll talk this thing over."
+
+Teddy spoke so sternly that Carrots was forced to obey; and, walking
+slowly and mournfully to City Hall Park, he washed his face in the basin
+of the fountain, drying it as well as he could with the sleeve of his
+coat, for Teddy no longer carried his newspaper valise since he had a
+dwelling-place in which to leave it.
+
+As a matter of course, Carrots's friends, who chanced to be in the
+vicinity, insisted on knowing exactly what had happened, and, on being
+informed of the outrage, denounced the perpetrator of the villainy in no
+measured terms.
+
+"He'll get hisself into trouble if he keeps on this way very long," one
+of the listeners said when the story had been told in all its details.
+"I've got tired seein' him tryin' to run the whole town, an' it strikes
+me there oughter be enough other fellers that feel the same way to set
+down on him."
+
+More than one expressed the same opinion, and Teddy was made happy by
+hearing suggestions as to what should be done to curb Master Jellison's
+ambitions; but, although very much advice was given, no one volunteered
+anything in the way of assistance toward righting the wrong that had
+been done.
+
+Vain threats and denunciations would not bring back the stolen money,
+and, to Teddy, this was more important than "squaring himself" with
+Skip. Therefore, after having waited for Carrots to talk with his
+friends as long as he thought absolutely necessary, he whispered:
+
+"Now, see here, old man, I've got to go to work. We mustn't fool any
+more time away. Let's earn what we can the rest of the day, an' to-night
+we'll fix up some kind of a plan."
+
+Carrots would have been better pleased to remain with his friends; but
+his partner was so peremptory that he could not refuse to go to work,
+and, half an hour later, the business associates were industriously
+engaged either in selling papers or blacking boots, according to the
+demands of their customers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT.
+
+
+Teddy was the first to arrive at the packing-case home on the evening of
+the robbery; but before he had time to get supper--that is, spread out
+in the most tempting array possible the provisions he had brought
+home--a noise near the gate told that his partner had come.
+
+Carrots's face was sadly swollen. He entered the box, and threw himself
+down wearily in one corner on the pile of straw.
+
+"Anything else gone wrong?" Teddy asked in a friendly tone, as he
+lighted another candle for the purpose of increasing the cheerfulness of
+the apartment by an extra illumination.
+
+"Anything wrong!" Carrots repeated. "I should think when a feller
+couldn't go 'round 'bout his business without bein' robbed, there was a
+good many things out er the way!"
+
+"But, I mean, have you got inter any more trouble since then?"
+
+"No; that was enough to last me the rest of this week, I guess."
+
+"Now, see here, Carrots; it doesn't do any good to go fussin' 'bout
+that, an' the sooner you brace up, the better it'll be for all hands.
+Skip's got the money, an' you've got the thumpin', I know; but you can't
+change it by worryin' an' lookin' so glum."
+
+"Do you count on a feller's grinnin' like a cat jest 'cause his face is
+swelled as big as a squash?" Carrots asked, dolefully.
+
+"No; but I don't count on his thinkin' 'bout it all the time. We've got
+somethin' else to do besides botherin' with Skip Jellison. S'posin' you
+turn to an' give up everythin' for the next month jest to pay him back,
+an' then do it, what have you made? Why, nothin' at all--you 're jest
+where you are to-day. Now we've got a comfortable place to live in, and
+money enough to feed us for the next two or three days, even if we don't
+do any business; an' as good a chance to earn ourselves a stand as any
+other fellers ever had."
+
+"So you 've laid right down, an' are goin' to let them keep that money,
+are you?"
+
+"Well, yes, jest now; for there's nothin' else we can do. 'Cordin' to my
+way of thinkin', we've got to keep on workin' an' waitin' till the
+chance comes. Then we'll lay inter Skip as hard as you like; but I don't
+see the sense of whinin' yet awhile."
+
+"What's to prove he won't jump in an' do the same thing over ag'in
+to-morrow?"
+
+"I've been thinkin' most likely he'd try the game, an' we'd better stick
+together. Now, here's my way: in the mornin' you take your box, while I
+tend to the papers, an' we'll go right up to City Hall. If he comes
+there we mustn't fight him, 'cause we'll be 'rested; but there's
+nothin' 'll prevent our keepin' him off if he tries any funny business.
+I guess it wouldn't be a great while before some one come along as a
+witness on our side. If he fools 'round two or three days, tryin' to
+drive us off, he'll get inter trouble, an' we'll be clear of it."
+
+The only way in which Carrots's reply to this remark can be described,
+is by saying that he snorted.
+
+It was not a groan, neither was it a spoken word; but, rather, a general
+snort of disdain for the plan proposed and defiance to the boy who had
+wronged him.
+
+Teddy's suggestion was so tame and so unworthy the cause that Carrots
+began to think he had made a mistake by going into business with one who
+was willing to act so cowardly a part.
+
+Teddy understood this quite as well as if his companion had given words
+to the thoughts, and, without losing his temper in the slightest degree,
+he asked: "If you don't like that plan, what do you want to do?"
+
+"Go out an' lambaste Skip!"
+
+"All right; there's nothin' to hinder. Shall I stay here, or do you want
+me to help?"
+
+"Well, it looks to me as if it was as much your fight as mine."
+
+"Very well; let's go. I reckon that we can find him somewhere, can't
+we?"
+
+"Yes; he's 'most allers up 'round Grand Street an' the Bowery."
+
+"Well," said Teddy, "if you're bound to try an' thump Skip, why, I'm
+with you; but you know as well as I do how it'll turn out. He counts on
+jest what you think of doin', an' is sure to have his gang with him all
+the time."
+
+"Then will you do jest as I say?"
+
+"Right up to the dot!"
+
+This satisfied Carrots to such a degree that he immediately cast off the
+look of anger he had worn, and began to appear more cheerful.
+
+Carrots had so far unbent that he was willing to discuss the business of
+the day, and on counting the profits it was found that between them they
+had earned eighty-one cents, despite the many interruptions and
+difficulties.
+
+According to the arrangements previously made, Teddy took possession of
+the funds, wrapped the pennies and silver pieces carefully in a piece of
+brown paper, and deposited the package in a hiding-place under one of
+the boxes which served them as a home.
+
+"What are you doin' that for?" Carrots asked in surprise.
+
+"I don't want to stand any chance of losin' it."
+
+"But it's safer in your pocket than anywhere else."
+
+"Not if we meet Skip. In case he an' his crowd get the best of us in a
+row, they'll be sure to do what they did this afternoon, an' we mustn't
+lose all the money we've got."
+
+Carrots made no reply.
+
+This preparing for a flogging was not agreeable to him, and it is
+possible he began to think that perhaps his scheme for getting even was
+hardly as wise as he had supposed it.
+
+Teddy deposited the cash where it would not be found until after a long
+and careful search, and then, their supper having been finished, said:
+"Now I'm ready whenever you are," and he extinguished one of the
+candles.
+
+"It's no use to go up there so soon," Carrots replied. "We'd better hold
+on till he gets his supper."
+
+Teddy made no comment upon this delay of justice, but began speaking of
+the work to be done on the following day, and the probability that
+trouble would ensue, always prefacing his remarks with the proviso:
+
+"If we go out at all to-morrow."
+
+"What do you keep saying that for?" Carrots finally asked. "Of course
+we'll go out to-morrow!"
+
+"I've seen the time since I struck this town that I couldn't get out
+when I wanted to go, an' p'rhaps we shall be in the same fix to-night;
+but if we ain't we'll dive inter business mighty strong."
+
+It was some time before Carrots showed the slightest disposition to
+venture forth for the purpose of wreaking vengeance.
+
+Then it could have been observed that he was not nearly so eager as when
+he first came home.
+
+Twice he leaped to his feet as if to propose that they start, and twice
+he sat down again.
+
+One would almost have fancied he was waiting for Teddy to make the
+suggestion; but the latter remained silent.
+
+Then it seemed as if it were absolutely necessary he should do
+something, and he said with an evident effort:
+
+"Now, if you're ready, I reckon we'd better go."
+
+"All right," Teddy replied, cheerily, as he led the way from the
+packing-cases to the street.
+
+Carrots followed at a leisurely pace, and, as the two walked toward
+Grand Street by way of the Bowery, one would have said it was Teddy who
+had insisted on the expedition.
+
+The nearer they approached the place where it was supposed Master
+Jellison would be found, the slower did Carrots walk, and finally, when
+they were yet more than a block away, he came to a standstill.
+
+"What is it?" Teddy asked, knowing full well the cause of the halt.
+
+"I've been thinkin' p'rhaps it would be better if we didn't go up there
+to-night. Course he's got his crowd with him, an' they could get the
+best of us."
+
+"Yes, an' he'll be in the same fix for the next week."
+
+"Well, I s'pose," Carrots said, hesitatingly, "we ought ter wait till he
+thinks we ain't goin' to do anything."
+
+"That's jest what I proposed, old man, before we started out; but you
+seemed to think it ought ter be done to-night, an' I was willin' to give
+in."
+
+"I guess I'll let it go as you say, 'cause it would be hard luck for
+both of us to get 'rested and sent up to the Island."
+
+Now that Carrots had decided on delaying his vengeance, he was in the
+utmost haste to get away from the dangerous locality; for there was a
+chance that his enemy might appear, and then, perhaps, instead of being
+revenged, he would receive another thrashing.
+
+With such thoughts in his mind he walked rapidly toward his dwelling;
+and when they were once safely inside the fence, all his former
+good-nature appeared to have returned.
+
+He was the same Carrots as before, and, so far as could be seen, the
+loss of the dollar had ceased to trouble him.
+
+Teddy was not willing that very much time should be spent in idle
+conversation; he believed it necessary they should be at their work very
+early in the morning, and curled himself on the bed of straw before the
+neighbouring clocks proclaimed the hour of eight.
+
+When the sun rose once more, and the two merchants were preparing for
+business, Carrots no longer entertained ideas of thrashing his enemy,
+but seemed only to fear that he might receive further injury at Skip's
+hands.
+
+So excessive was his prudence that he did not allow himself to stray
+more than half a dozen paces from Teddy's side, no matter what business
+might demand.
+
+The morning trade opened in the most prosperous fashion, and the
+partners had already sold eight papers and put on four shines, when
+Master Jellison and his companions appeared on the scene.
+
+"Look out for 'em!" Carrots said, nervously. "They are going to make a
+fuss, now, sure."
+
+"Keep right on with your work, an' don't pay any 'tention, no matter
+what they say," Teddy replied; and the three boys who claimed the right
+to control business in that section of the city approached until they
+were offensively near those who had been warned to leave town.
+
+"Didn't you get enough yesterday to serve you out?" Skip asked, angrily,
+of Carrots.
+
+The latter made no reply.
+
+"I reckon you know what I said 'bout your workin' 'roun' here," the
+bully continued, stepping yet closer, and shaking his fist in Carrots's
+face.
+
+At this point, Teddy thought best to interfere, and, taking the box from
+his companion's hand, he stepped between Carrots and Skip.
+
+"Now, I've got somethin' to say in this business," he began; "an' I want
+you to remember it, jest as much as we'll remember what you've said
+'bout our goin'. I came down to this town to earn a livin', an' to leave
+other folks alone, same's I told you over there by the fountain.
+Yesterday you pounded Carrots, an' stole a dollar of my money from him.
+Now do you think I'm such a chump as to stand that?"
+
+"Well, why don't you do somethin' 'bout it?" Skip asked, with a sneer,
+as he put himself in an attitude of defense.
+
+[Illustration: TEDDY DEFENDS HIS PARTNER.]
+
+"If you think I'm so much of a fool as to fight you, an' stand the
+chance of gettin' 'rested, while you're coward enough to run away, it's
+a mistake, an' the sooner you find it out the better. This is what I
+want ter say, an' I mean every word of it. Jest as true as you touch
+us, or interfere in any way, I'm goin' to that judge where I was taken
+up before, an' have you hauled in. You know what that'll 'mount to, an'
+these fellers who are with you stand the chance of gettin' the same as
+you'll get. The judge said that instead of fightin' a boy ought to make
+a complaint to the police, an' they'd see he was taken care of. Now,
+I've come to this city to stay, and that's what I'm goin' to do. If we
+were out in the country I'd be glad to stand up with you, an' the feller
+that got the worst of it would have to leave; but we're where the
+policemen will 'rest us, an' I can't 'ford to take chances."
+
+Teddy spoke in such a decided tone, and appeared so determined to insist
+upon his rights, that, perhaps, for the first time in his life, Master
+Jellison was cowed, if not absolutely frightened.
+
+He knew only too well that the statements made were correct: that he
+would be punished severely by the law for having robbed Carrots, and, in
+the bewilderment caused by the bold stand Teddy had taken, he retired a
+few paces to consult his friends.
+
+The boy from Saranac had not said all he intended to, and, thinking it
+would be better to continue the conversation before the bully had time
+to regain his courage, he continued:
+
+"I don't want you to think you're goin' to get off with that money, even
+if we keep quiet now. When the time comes right, you'll pay it back to
+Carrots, or have trouble; an' I'll give you somewhere 'bout a week to
+make up your mind, 'less you want ter kick up a row now. You'd better
+sneak off before that policeman comes along, for I'll begin my end of
+the business by tellin' him the whole story jest as soon as he gets
+here."
+
+As Teddy spoke, he motioned, involuntarily, with his head in the
+direction of the approaching officer, and, turning quickly, Skip saw the
+same guardian of the peace who had taken Teddy to the station-house.
+
+It would be awkward for him to remain if the true story were to be told,
+and the bully concluded his wisest course was to leave that
+neighbourhood at once.
+
+Therefore, he and his friends moved hastily away until they were on the
+opposite side of the street, where they could hide themselves behind the
+vehicles whenever it became necessary, and at the same time see all that
+was going on.
+
+Teddy did not intend to recede one whit from the stand he had taken.
+
+As soon as the policeman came up, he told all that had occurred during
+the previous twenty-four hours.
+
+"So that boy is going to drive you out of town, eh?" the officer said,
+laughingly.
+
+"No, he isn't goin' to do anything of the kind. That's what _he_ says;
+but I've got something to say 'bout it. I can't thump him, 'cause you'll
+'rest me; but the chances are he'll hit me whenever he can. I sha'n't
+stand an' take it a great while, an' that's why I want you to know jest
+how I'm fixed."
+
+"If you don't provoke a quarrel, and he makes any trouble, pitch in.
+Then come to me, and I'll see you through; but your best way would be
+to enter a complaint against him on the charge of stealing money."
+
+"That's what I wouldn't like, 'less I had to," Teddy replied. "If he'll
+give it back, an' I reckon he will before long, that part of it will be
+all right. I'm a stranger in the city, an' don't want to get inter a
+fuss with the fellers, 'cause I've got to work 'longside of 'em; but it
+stands me in hand to have somebody know exactly how things are."
+
+"Come to me if you get into any trouble, providing you keep yourself
+straight," the officer said, in a kindly tone, as he moved on, and from
+across the street Master Jellison and his party noted with no slight
+uneasiness the apparently friendly talk between the boy from Saranac and
+the policeman.
+
+Carrots was undecided as to what might result from this bold speech of
+his partner's.
+
+During all his experience in the city, he had never known a newsboy or a
+bootblack to appeal to the authorities for protection, and Teddy's
+method of taking care of himself rather startled him.
+
+"It'll make Skip worse'n ever, I'm afraid," he said, in a low tone, and
+Teddy replied:
+
+"It won't do for him to get very fresh now, 'cause after he strikes the
+first blow I'm goin' to pitch in, an' if there ain't too many of his
+gang 'round, you'll see me lug him into the station-house. I don't
+b'lieve in fightin' where there are officers to 'rest you; but I
+wouldn't let any fellow get the best of me if I could help it, no matter
+who was in the way. Now we've fixed ourselves, an' the sooner Skip
+Jellison begins, the better I'll like it."
+
+Carrots gazed with admiration upon his partner.
+
+He realized that, by thus stating his case to the policeman, Teddy had
+put himself in a position where it would be safe to defend himself
+against any attack which might be made; and this was certainly much
+better than Carrots's plan of the previous evening, which, fortunately,
+had not been carried into effect.
+
+"Now get to work, Carrots; we mustn't let them fellers knock us out of
+business, for we've got to make more than a dollar to-day."
+
+Carrots did set to work most vigorously.
+
+His fear of Skip was quieted to a certain degree, and he darted here and
+there without reference to his partner's whereabouts, getting very much
+more trade than he would otherwise have done, because of the fact that
+his brother bootblacks, and many of their acquaintances in the newspaper
+line, were so busily engaged discussing the plan adopted by the boy from
+Saranac that they had no time to attend to the details of business.
+
+For at least half an hour, Teddy and Carrots were the only boys in the
+immediate vicinity who attempted to do any very great amount of work,
+and the result was that, before the clock had struck ten, their profits
+amounted to nearly as much as Teddy had expected that they would earn
+during the entire day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+CARROTS'S CHARITY.
+
+
+During the remainder of the day neither Carrots nor Teddy saw Skip.
+
+It appeared very much as if Master Jellison had grown alarmed after
+seeing his intended victim conversing with the policeman.
+
+The other merchants in the newspaper and the bootblacking business,
+neglecting everything else, discussed the very remarkable state of
+affairs brought about by the boy from Saranac, until the partners had
+succeeded in rolling up profits that made Carrots's eyes open wide with
+surprise.
+
+Then their brother merchants began to realize that, while effecting
+nothing so far as the controversy between Skip and Teddy was concerned,
+they were losing an opportunity of earning money; and so they at once
+resumed their labors, and Carrots soon was aware of a depression in his
+department of the bootblacking industry which caused him no slight
+amount of sorrow.
+
+"If Skip Jellison had hung 'round here the rest of the day, so's to give
+the other fellers more chance to talk, we'd have come nigh to earnin'
+enough to pay for the stand before night," he said, as Teddy returned
+from purchasing his fourth supply of papers.
+
+"That shows how much a feller can lose unless he keeps his eyes open,"
+Teddy replied.
+
+"That's a fact," said Carrots. "It didn't seem much to loaf 'round a
+little while; but it counts up when you come to look at it."
+
+"You can jest bet it does; an' if you'll keep watch of yourself for
+another week, we'll be in mighty good shape to set ourselves up in
+business. There's plenty of money to be earned 'round here, an' if a
+feller doesn't spend it as fast as he gets it, it won't be long before
+he's on his feet."
+
+Ever since he began to follow the occupation of a bootblack, Carrots had
+desired to own such an outfit as was in the possession of a certain
+Italian on Centre Street. In his eyes it was simply magnificent. A
+chair, upholstered in red velvet, stood on a platform covered with sheet
+brass and studded plentifully with large-headed nails of the same metal.
+As foot-rests there were two deformed camels in bronzed iron, each
+bearing on its back a piece of iron fashioned in the shape of the sole
+of a boot. Even in his wildest dreams, however, he had never allowed
+himself to believe it was possible for him to become the owner of such a
+gorgeous establishment; for he had learned from a reliable source that
+the Italian's outfit had cost not less than twenty dollars--an amount
+which, in Carrots's eyes, was so large as to be within reach of only the
+very wealthy.
+
+Now, however, he began to think such a thing might be possible, for he
+had realized what could be accomplished by industry. In his mind's eye
+he saw the firm's news-stand, in one corner of which could be placed a
+small stove during the cold weather, with a space under the counter
+sufficiently large for the two boys to sleep in, and the outside of the
+establishment painted a vivid green. Carrots was very particular as to
+the color. He had decided, as soon as the matter was broached by Teddy,
+that if they ever did succeed in buying a stand, it must be painted
+green; and this was because a friend of his in Jersey City had told him,
+in the strictest secrecy, that such a color was very "lucky."
+
+How industriously he labored during the remainder of the afternoon! So
+eager was he to reach the packing-case home in order to count the money
+on hand, that he proposed to stop work for the night an hour before the
+demand for bootblack's services had wholly ceased.
+
+"We'll have to wait a while longer," Teddy said decidedly. "It won't do
+to knock off yet, 'cause we ought to make enough to pay for our suppers
+between now an' dark. S'posin' you take some of these papers? You can
+sell 'em when there's no show for shinin'."
+
+Carrots obeyed without a murmur, for the green news-stand and the
+brass-studded platform and chair still remained before his eyes; and not
+until eight o'clock was it decided that they could afford to "close up
+shop" by going home.
+
+On gaining the packing-cases the proceeds of the day's work were thrown
+into one pile, and then began the very pleasing occupation of counting
+their earnings.
+
+Carrots was well aware that they had done a good business; but he was
+really astonished on learning that the "firm" had earned two dollars and
+eleven cents, or, in other words, a trifle more than one tenth the
+estimated cost of the stand.
+
+"There," said Teddy, in a tone of satisfaction. "That is what I call
+humpin' ourselves! It won't take a great many days like this before
+we'll be on our feet in fine shape."
+
+"That is, if Skip don't bother us."
+
+"Well, this time his botherin' did us good, 'cause while the other
+fellers were talkin' 'bout it we were jest shovelin' the money in. Now
+we'll put the two dollars away, an' use the 'leven cents for supper. I
+reckon we can get enough Bologna an' crackers for that."
+
+"Ain't there anything on hand?"
+
+"Not a crumb. Will you go and get the supper, or shall I?"
+
+"I'll go while you put the money away," and Carrots was out of the
+dwelling like a flash; but he did not return as soon as Teddy expected
+from his hurried departure.
+
+More than once Teddy went to the gate to listen for him; and at last it
+seemed certain Carrots must have met with an accident.
+
+"I ought to have gone with him," Teddy muttered to himself, "'cause the
+chances are that Skip has turned up, an' is thumpin' him."
+
+After waiting ten minutes more, Teddy decided that it would be necessary
+to go in search of his partner, who might be hurt and unable to get
+home; but just as he was about to climb the fence, the sound of hurried
+footsteps in the alleyway told that Carrots was returning.
+
+"Did you think I was never comin' back?" the young gentleman asked, as
+he arrived.
+
+"Well, it did begin to look that way. What kept you so long?"
+
+"Wait till I get in the box, an' I'll tell you all about it," Carrots
+replied, breathlessly; and, when they were once more inside the
+improvised dwelling, he began his story, even before unrolling the
+packages he had bought.
+
+"Say, do you know Ikey Cain, the feller I bought that box and brushes
+of?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, he's a little feller not much bigger'n Teenie Massey, an' I met
+him out here by the grocery store. I tell you he's been in awful hard
+luck, an' he's all banged up."
+
+"What's the matter with him? Some more of Skip Jellison's work?"
+
+"No, it ain't that; but he got hurt a while ago down to Pier 10, where
+they was unloadin' bananas, and he was layin' for a chance to get some.
+Now there's a sore on his leg, so he can't hardly walk, an' he hasn't
+been able to do any work for more'n three weeks."
+
+"Where does he live?" Teddy asked.
+
+"He stayed at the Newsboys' Lodgin' House till his money gave out, an'
+since then he's been stoppin' anywhere. Say, Teddy, he ain't had a thing
+to eat to-day."
+
+"Why didn't you give him some of that 'leven cents?"
+
+"That's what I wanted to do; but I was 'fraid you wouldn't like it."
+
+"You ought to know better'n that. I've been hungry myself too many
+times since I left Saranac, not to understand how a feller feels."
+
+"I'll tell you what I was thinkin' of; but of course I don't want you to
+go into the plan 'less you're willin'. It struck me as how it wouldn't
+be any bother if Ikey stayed here with us till he gets better. An' jest
+as soon's he's well he'll be willin' to pay us back what it'll cost for
+his grub. He isn't much of an eater, anyway. I could put down three
+times more stuff than he, an' not half try. Why, he thinks he's filled
+'way up to the chin if he gets one bowl of soup," said Carrots,
+scornfully.
+
+"There wasn't any need of your askin' me, Carrots, if he could come
+here," said Teddy, smiling. "This is your shanty."
+
+"It's as much yours as mine, since we went inter partnership."
+
+"It doesn't make any difference who owns it. I think we'd better let him
+in, if he's a decent kind of a boy, an' has been havin' hard luck."
+
+"Then s'pose I go after him? He's down by the grocery store, an' when I
+left was lookin' at a smoked herrin' 's if he'd draw the back-bone right
+out of it."
+
+"Shall I go with you?" Teddy asked.
+
+[Illustration: IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER'S WINDOW.]
+
+"No; I can get him up here alone if you'll stand by the gate so's to
+catch him when I h'ist him over," said Carrots, "'cause he's lame an'
+can't do much shinnin' himself."
+
+Carrots, not waiting to make further explanation, ran out from the nest
+of boxes, clambered over the fence, and soon the sound of footsteps told
+that he was running down the alley.
+
+Five minutes later an unusual noise warned Teddy that the invalid was
+approaching, and he took up his stand on the inside of the fence, ready
+to assist.
+
+"Are you there, Teddy?" Carrots asked in a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Yes; let him come!"
+
+"I'll give him a boost, an you catch hold of his hands," was Carrots's
+reply.
+
+By moving one of the cases nearer the gate, Teddy was able to reach
+sufficiently high to grasp the hand of the lame boy; and then, by the
+aid of Carrots's "boost," the new member of the family was soon inside.
+
+Teddy assisted the stranger to the box which served as a home, and when
+Carrots had lighted both candles he had an opportunity to see the boy
+thus introduced to the household.
+
+Ikey could never have been called a prepossessing lad, and his recent
+hardships had in no wise tended to improve his appearance.
+
+A pair of large black eyes seemed even larger than nature had made
+them, by contrast with his pallid face and the closely cropped hair,
+which literally stood on end in every direction, giving him an
+expression such as one fancies would be proper for some blood-thirsty
+revolutionist. But, although he looked so thoroughly ferocious, Ikey was
+by no means a dangerous character. As Carrots had said, he was shorter
+than Teenie Massey, and the pallor of his thin face was emphasized by
+the many streaks and spots of dirt, and the ill-fitting, ragged garments
+gave him the appearance of being several sizes smaller than he really
+was.
+
+"Jiminy! you've got it swell here," Ikey said, in a tone of admiration,
+as he gazed around at the snug quarters, and especially at the bottles
+used as candlesticks. It seemed to him that, if they could afford double
+the necessary amount of light, their manner of living must certainly
+border on extravagance.
+
+"Well, it _is_ pretty fair," Carrots replied, with the air of one who
+thinks it modest to belittle his own property. "We manage to get along
+here somehow, an' are goin' to squeeze you in. You're so thin, Ikey,
+that a sardine-box would make a first-rate bed for you."
+
+"You're awful good to help me, fellers. Jest before Carrots came along I
+was tryin' to make out what I was goin' to do," said Ikey.
+
+"Well, take hold, an' fill yourself up with what we've got here. P'rhaps
+we'll find some way to fix you so's you can walk better'n you do now,"
+Teddy said, as he unrolled the packages of provisions Carrots had
+brought; but finding there was not sufficient for three very hungry
+boys, he excused himself long enough to purchase a few additions to the
+collection.
+
+His sympathies were thoroughly roused, and he determined Ikey should
+have, as he afterward explained, "one square, out-and-out feed," if no
+more. Three smoked herring, three seed-cakes, and a five-cent pie
+comprised the list of provisions Teddy brought back. That he was guilty
+of extravagance in purchasing these articles shows how deeply he felt
+for Ikey's sufferings.
+
+"This is what you call livin' high," Carrots said, as he arranged the
+feast in the most favorable light. "I reckon you'll get well if you stay
+here very long, Ikey."
+
+"If I don't I ought ter be choked!" Master Cain replied emphatically, as
+he proceeded to devour one of the herring, first breaking off the head
+and stripping, with the touch of an artist, each side of the fish from
+the back-bone.
+
+"There's one bad thing 'bout it," Carrots said, as he suddenly thought
+of what might be an awkward predicament for himself. "You know, the
+folks what keep the store don't have any idea I'm livin' here, 'cause if
+they did I'd be fired mighty quick. Of course you can't go 'round town
+while you've got that thing on your leg, an' you're bound to stay till
+it gets well; but, you see, Ikey, it won't do to make the least little
+mite of a noise. Do you think you can manage it all day, with never so
+much as a squeak?"
+
+"I reckon it wouldn't be very hard work," Master Cain replied. "I'd be
+thinkin' how much better this was than loafin' 'round the streets, an'
+then I couldn't 'yip' if I wanted to, when I'd know I might lose the
+snap."
+
+"And don't show your nose outside this box, 'cause that would be jest as
+bad as hollerin'."
+
+"Don't you worry 'bout me! I'll get along all right, an' won't make any
+fuss for you," the invalid replied decidedly, as he made a pleasing
+combination of the dried fish and pie, by way of a finishing touch to
+the meal.
+
+When their guest's hunger had been satisfied, the hosts made
+arrangements for the night by giving to the crippled boy the entire pile
+of straw on which to lie, while they slept upon the bare boards of the
+adjoining box.
+
+On the following morning Carrots was awake unusually early, for he
+thought of the necessity of finding something in which to bring water,
+that Ikey might be able to satisfy his thirst during the day; and,
+without arousing either of his companions, he attended to this important
+business.
+
+After a short absence he returned with a clean tomato-can as a
+drinking-vessel, and this he filled from the hydrant.
+
+Teddy was awake when this task was finished. There were provisions
+enough for the invalid's meals, and the two boys set out, intending to
+prepare for the day by purchasing two bowls of Mose Pearson's
+slate-colored soup.
+
+"You won't have anythin' to do but eat, Ikey, an' there's grub enough
+for that," Carrots said, as he left the dwelling. "Take hold an' enjoy
+yourself. We sha'n't be back till pretty nigh dark, so don't worry 'bout
+us, an' be sure to keep your mouth shut."
+
+"I'll get along all right, an' nobody shall know I'm here," Ikey
+replied; and an instant later the two merchants vaulted the fence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A MEDICAL FRIEND.
+
+
+This unexpected addition to their family had a good effect on Carrots,
+because it made him more careful of his money, almost uncomfortably so,
+Teddy thought, when, having reached Mose Pearson's, the junior member of
+the firm questioned whether it would not be better to have no breakfast,
+in order to save time.
+
+"You see now we've got Ikey on hand we'll have to be careful of the
+money; else we sha'n't get that stand very soon."
+
+"We're bound to eat, Carrots. If you want to be so awful careful of your
+money, you might give up smokin' cigarettes," Teddy replied.
+
+"Oh, I swore off buyin' any, yesterday. I don't smoke now 'less some
+feller gives me one. Of course, you can't reckon I'd refuse it; but this
+soup will be ten cents gone, an' we'd be jest as hungry by noon.
+Besides, we've got to buy somethin' for supper, 'cause we're feedin'
+three now, you know."
+
+"We'll get the breakfast, an' work enough harder to pay for it," Teddy
+replied, as he led the way into the restaurant; and again did Carrots's
+new ideas of economy appear, as he swallowed the soup almost at the
+risk of choking himself, in order to save a few moments.
+
+He was the first boy on the street prepared to black boots that morning,
+and no fellow ever worked more industriously, until nearly twelve
+o'clock, when he approached his partner in a mysterious manner,
+beckoning him to follow where they could converse without fear of being
+overheard.
+
+"Say, did you know lamb was awful good for sick people?" Carrots asked,
+with an air of great importance.
+
+"No; I didn't know that. Who told you?"
+
+"When old Miss Carter was sick, she said a little bit of lamb would do
+her a power of good, an' the boys chipped in an' bought some."
+
+"But it'll come pretty high now, Carrots. You see it's kinder out of
+season."
+
+"Pretty high, eh? Well, what would you say if I got a bang-up good mess
+of lamb for five cents?"
+
+"Why, I'd say it either wasn't lamb, or else the man what sold it didn't
+know what he was about."
+
+"Well, it's lamb, an' I paid the reg'lar price for it, Teddy," Carrots
+said triumphantly, as he drew from his pocket a small package wrapped in
+brown paper, and, opening it, displayed to the astonished gaze of his
+companion two pickled lambs' tongues.
+
+"There, what do you think of that? Talk 'bout lamb for sick folks! If it
+does any good, I'm goin' to have Ikey well as ever by to-morrow. I'll
+make him eat all this before he goes to bed. You see it's jest as cheap
+as anythin' we can get," he added. "He couldn't stuff down more'n six in
+a day to save his life, an' I reckon we can spend that much."
+
+Teddy was not positive whether lamb was good for the invalid, neither
+did he think the tongue Carrots had purchased would be beneficial; but,
+as the latter had said, it would serve as food, and certainly was not a
+waste of money, and therefore he replied:
+
+"I don't know as it'll do him any good, old man, but it'll keep him from
+bein' hungry, anyhow."
+
+"Are you goin' down there this noon?"
+
+"No; I wouldn't dare to in the daytime. We shall have to wait till
+night. Have you seen anythin' of Skip?"
+
+"Not a smitch. I reckon he got scared when he saw you talkin' to that
+policeman yesterday, an' I think he will give us a wide berth for a
+while."
+
+"I don't think you're right. He hasn't stopped tryin' to drive us out er
+town jest 'cause I told the officer; but is waitin' till he can catch us
+where we don't know anybody. Keep your eye peeled for him."
+
+"I'll be careful enough, you can be sure of that," Carrots replied. "I
+never'd gone to the market for this lamb, if it hadn't been that a
+couple of fellers I know were goin' down, an' they wouldn't let Skip
+pitch inter me."
+
+This day's business was not so large as the previous one, owing to the
+fact that both in the bootblacking and news-selling departments of the
+concern there was active competition; but both considered they had
+earned very good wages, and were in the best of humor when they started
+home with a sufficient addition to their larder to provide a generous
+meal for all three.
+
+"I'll tell you what I've been thinkin' of, Carrots," Teddy said, as they
+walked slowly along. "Ikey is in a pretty bad way, an' it seems to me we
+ought ter do somethin' more'n jest feed him up on lamb, if he ever
+expects to get out."
+
+"Want to try the bread an' milk?"
+
+"No, I don't know anythin' 'bout that business; but this is what I was
+kind er figgerin' on. It costs terrible to get a doctor, of course; but
+don't you s'pose we might make the same trade with one that we did with
+the lawyer? If we'd 'gree to give him a paper, an' black his boots, till
+the bill was paid, I don't reckon it would take long to fix Ikey in
+great shape."
+
+"That's a good idee!" Carrots replied, enthusiastically. "Why, I'll bet
+you could get any quantity of 'em at that rate. Say, there's one up on
+Rivington Street. I used to black his boots last year, when I worked
+'round that way; but haven't seen him since. He's awful nice; ain't so
+very old either, an' a good many times give me something extra when I
+got though with my job."
+
+"Suppose we go there to-night?"
+
+"All right; I'm with you! We'll fill Ikey up with this lamb, get him to
+bed, an' then take a sneak. We can be back in half an hour. Say, how
+would it do to carry him along with us?"
+
+"I wouldn't like to do that, 'cause you see p'rhaps the doctor might not
+be willin', an' we'd have dragged the poor feller 'round for nothin'.
+Besides, if we should happen to meet Skip while he was along, it would
+be kind er hard lines to take care of a lame boy an' fight at the same
+time."
+
+"I never thought of that. I reckon I'd better let you 'tend to things
+anyhow. You seem to know more'n I do."
+
+The invalid welcomed them very cordially, as might have been expected
+from one who had been forced not only to remain inactive, but absolutely
+silent, during the many hours of their absence.
+
+In reply to Carrots's questions, he represented himself as being
+comparatively comfortable, and stated that, although the time had seemed
+long, he was more than glad to be there, rather than on the streets
+enduring such suffering as must necessarily be his while moving around.
+
+The first duty of the evening was to count the money, and it was learned
+that they had earned one dollar and twenty-six cents, exclusive of the
+amount spent for food procured on their way home.
+
+"That makes us pretty nigh five dollars," Teddy said, as he placed these
+profits with the others. "If nothin' happens it won't be so very long
+before we'll be in great shape for doin' business."
+
+Again Carrots had visions of the green news-stand and brass-covered
+bootblacking outfit, and from this reverie he was awakened when Teddy
+prepared the evening meal by unwrapping the papers in which the food
+had been brought.
+
+This reminded Carrots of the scheme formed for the benefit of the
+invalid, and he handed the sheep's tongues to Ikey, as he said:
+
+"There, old man, I want you to fill yourself right up on that, 'cause
+Miss Carter said they was awful good for sick people, an' I 'low they'll
+straighten you out in pretty nigh less'n no time!"
+
+Then Carrots explained what they intended to do in regard to securing a
+doctor, and Ikey's eyes glistened as he thought of getting relief from
+his sufferings, which must have been great, judging from the expression
+he constantly wore.
+
+"I'm 'fraid you can't do much," he said, with a sigh.
+
+"It won't do any harm to try," Carrots replied, as he began to satisfy
+his own hunger; and when the meal was brought to a close, owing to the
+fact that neither of the partners could eat any more, Teddy led the way
+to the street again, the invalid expressing his earnest hope that the
+doctor might accede to their wishes.
+
+Fortunately for their purpose, upon arriving at the doctor's office,
+they found him at home and not busy.
+
+Singular as it may seem, he did not recognize Carrots until he had been
+told of the previous business connection, and even then appeared almost
+indifferent in regard to seeing his friend again.
+
+Teddy had supposed Master Carrots was to attend to this portion of the
+task, owing to his acquaintance with the physician; but instead of
+doing so, his young partner, after entering the office, stood first on
+one foot and then on the other, staring at the medical gentleman in a
+manner well calculated to make a nervous person uncomfortable.
+
+"Well, what can I do for you?" the doctor asked.
+
+Carrots looked around at Teddy as he said, in a hoarse whisper:
+
+"You tell him, old man. You can fix things up better'n I can."
+
+Master Thurston opened negotiations by proceeding at once to the heart
+of the matter.
+
+"We want ter hire a doctor," he said. "You see, Ikey Cain's got a lame
+leg, an' we haven't done anything for it yet except to give him some
+lamb, which I don't 'low is goin' to make him better very soon. Now what
+we thought 'bout doin' was to get you to look out for him, an' let us
+pay in trade. I sell papers, an' Carrots blacks boots. If you'll 'gree
+to fix Ikey up as he ought ter be, we'll come here every mornin' till
+the bill's paid."
+
+"Where is the boy?" the doctor asked, looking amused rather than grave.
+
+"Down where we live."
+
+"Give me the address, and I will call there to-morrow morning."
+
+"Oh, you mustn't do that!" Carrots cried, in alarm. "If you should go
+there in broad daylight and shin over that fence, the folks in the shop
+would know jest where we live!"
+
+The doctor was at a loss to understand the meaning of this remark, and
+Teddy explained by saying:
+
+"You see, we've got a couple of boxes down here back of a store, an' the
+folks who own 'em don't know anything 'bout our livin' there. We can't
+go in till after dark, when the shop's shut up, an' have to come out in
+the mornin' before it's open."
+
+"I understand," the gentleman replied, with a smile. "Then it will be
+necessary to bring the boy here."
+
+"Couldn't you fix him to-night?" Carrots asked.
+
+"I fancy so, unless there should be a call from some patient."
+
+"I s'pose we can get him over the fence; but it'll hurt him a good bit,"
+Teddy said, musingly.
+
+"We can rig that all right," Carrots replied, carelessly. "If he's goin'
+to have his leg done up, he's got to come out, an' we can't help it if
+it does hurt him;" and then turning to the doctor, he asked, eagerly,
+"Say, how much you goin' to charge for doin' that?"
+
+"What should you think it would be worth, or, in other words, how many
+shines would you give me? We won't say anything about the newspapers,
+because I already have a young man who serves me with them."
+
+"We'll try to come to your terms if we can," Carrots replied, "an'
+you're the one that ought ter set the figger."
+
+"What should you think would be a good price, if you were going to pay
+money?"
+
+Carrots hesitated, looked around at Teddy, then again at the doctor, and
+finally said:
+
+"I reckon I'd be willin' to go as high as twenty-five cents if he was
+fixed up in good shape, 'cause I know he'll pay it back jest as soon as
+he gets to work. Course he can't do anything now."
+
+"Very well, bring your friend here whenever you please, and when I
+chance to be where you are working, I will call on you for one of the
+shines."
+
+Then the gentleman took up the book he had been reading, as a sign that
+there was no need to prolong the interview, and the boys went at full
+speed after the invalid.
+
+On being told that he would receive attention from a regular doctor,
+Ikey announced his willingness to climb over the fence a dozen times if
+it should be necessary, and without delay the journey was begun.
+
+Fortunately the physician was still at home when they returned. He
+examined the injured member, took something from his pocket which the
+others could not see at first, and, before the invalid was aware of his
+purpose, had passed the keen blade of the lancet through the swelling.
+
+Ikey felt faint with pain for an instant, and then looked wonderfully
+relieved, as the doctor said, soothingly:
+
+"There, my boy, you will be all right in a few days. I will bandage it,
+and you must be careful not to catch cold."
+
+Carrots watched the operation intently, and when the physician intimated
+that his services were at an end, he drew a long breath of relief as he
+said:
+
+[Illustration: THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR.]
+
+"By jiminy! If I could earn twenty-five cents as quick as that, it
+wouldn't take Teddy an' me long to buy that stand!"
+
+"You see, my boy, that medical men have to charge a very large amount of
+money for their services because it takes them so long to learn the
+business. Of course you would think I should get rich very rapidly if I
+had many such customers at twenty-five cents; but you can see that they
+are scarce to-night."
+
+"That's a fact," Carrots replied, thoughtfully, as if this phase of the
+case was something which he had not previously understood, and after
+gravely assuring the gentleman that "his face was good for a shine any
+time," Master Williams led the way out of the house.
+
+"How do you feel, old man?" Teddy asked, when they were on the sidewalk.
+
+"He hurt me a good bit with his knife; but jest as soon's that was over,
+it seemed like as if the pain had all gone. I reckon I'll get well now,
+eh?"
+
+"If you don't, there won't be any sense in puttin' out twenty-five cents
+ag'in on you," Carrots said, as if he should consider a continuation of
+Ikey's illness as a personal affront.
+
+The three arrived at home without having seen anything of their enemies,
+and in a short time were busily engaged discussing their future.
+
+"I'll tell you what it is, Teddy, Ikey'll make an awful good clerk for
+us when we buy our stand, an' after we get him mended. He can sell
+papers or shine boots with the best of 'em, for I've seen him work."
+
+Teddy suggested that they might not have a sufficient amount of business
+to warrant their hiring a clerk; but Carrots had his own ideas on the
+subject, and could not easily be persuaded that an assistant would not
+be an absolute necessity when the green-painted establishment with its
+bootblacking outfit was opened.
+
+The idea that he was to have an opportunity for working, without being
+forced to run around the streets, pleased Master Cain wonderfully, and
+this, in addition to the relief from pain, served to put him in the best
+possible humor.
+
+He promised to repay the boys, not only the twenty-five cents which was
+to be given the doctor in the form of boot-polishing, but also for such
+provisions as he might eat while one of their household; and agreed, in
+case Teddy finally concluded it would be desirable to hire him as a
+clerk, to do his work faithfully and honestly.
+
+"We'll have the stand before two weeks go by, an' I reckon you'll be
+right there helpin' us with it," Carrots said, enthusiastically, as he
+once more prepared the bed for the invalid, and saw to it that there was
+food enough on hand to satisfy his wants during the coming day.
+
+It was later than their usual time for retiring when the boys finally
+lay down to sleep; but, despite this fact, they were awake next morning
+as early as on any previous occasion, and, before leaving, Carrots again
+cautioned Ikey against allowing his presence in the box to be known.
+
+"You needn't be worried," the invalid replied. "Now my leg doesn't ache
+so bad, I can keep mighty still, no matter what happens. Yesterday I had
+to turn over pretty often to rest it, an' was 'fraid sometimes the folks
+would hear me."
+
+Then the boys clambered over the fence once more, and another day's work
+was begun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE PLOT.
+
+
+Shortly after the boys arrived at City Hall Park, and before the
+business of the day had fairly begun, Teenie Massey approached to
+inquire if they had lately heard anything regarding Skip.
+
+"Haven't seen nor heard of him," Carrots replied. "What makes you ask?"
+
+"Nothin', only I heard he was tearin' round dreadful yesterday, tellin'
+what he was goin' to do to you fellers."
+
+"I guess he'll keep under cover for a while," Carrots replied,
+confidently; and Teenie said, as he shook his head warningly:
+
+"Now don't be too sure of that, old man. I guess you want to keep your
+eyes open all the time, an' if you get to thinkin' he can't do any harm,
+you'll find him jumpin' right down on you some day."
+
+"I'll risk all the harm he can do," Carrots replied, with a laugh. "He's
+too much 'fraid the police will 'rest him for stealin', to come 'round
+where we are."
+
+"Well, I happen to know, from what Reddy Jackson said, that he hasn't
+given up hopes of drivin' you off yet."
+
+Carrots did not think this warning worthy his attention; but yet he
+repeated the same to Teddy when he found an opportunity.
+
+"I reckon Teenie's not far wrong," Master Thurston said, greatly to the
+surprise of his partner. "It didn't stand to reason that we was goin' to
+scare Skip so quick, an' I think he'll make one more try to git rid of
+us."
+
+"I don't see what he can do," Carrots said, musingly; and Teddy chimed
+in:
+
+"Neither do I, an' that's just why we're bound to be pretty careful. You
+see, if we could know what he was up to, it would be different."
+
+There was no further opportunity to discuss the matter, owing to the
+sudden demand for the bootblack's services, and by noon both the
+partners had almost forgotten the warning given by Teenie.
+
+This day's business brought them more money than the previous one, but
+not so much as on the occasion when Skip last made his threats.
+
+On counting up the cash immediately after their return home, it showed
+an addition of a dollar and seventy-one cents to the fund, and when this
+had been ascertained, Carrots found time to inquire as to the condition
+of their invalid friend.
+
+"I'm feelin' first-class," Ikey said, "an' reckon my leg'll be all right
+to-morrow. Say, who do you s'pose has been sneakin' 'round here to-day?"
+
+"It can't be Skip Jellison?" Carrots replied, quickly.
+
+"That's jest who it was, an' Reddy Jackson come with him. Course they
+didn't know I was in here, an' I lay low and I heard every word they
+said."
+
+"What did they talk 'bout?"
+
+"You see, I was thinkin' how nice it felt to be out er pain, when there
+was a rattlin' among the boxes, as if somebody was a-walkin' on 'em.
+First, I thought one of the men from the store had come out, an' I kept
+mighty quiet. Then two fellers began to talk, an' I knew who it was the
+minute they spoke; so I listened. Reddy he said to Skip, 'Here's where
+them fellers live.' Skip he 'lowed he couldn't see any place, an' Reddy
+said he knowed it was, 'cause he followed you home last night. Then he
+figured out that you slept in one of the boxes, an' that satisfied
+Skip."
+
+"Did they hunt to see if they could find where we stopped?"
+
+"No; I reckon they didn't dare, for fear somebody'd catch 'em. They was
+settin' up there on the fence, an' if one of the clerks had showed his
+nose they could have jumped over on the other side mighty quick. I tell
+you them fellers are up to some mischief."
+
+"What do you mean?" Teddy asked, quickly.
+
+"I heard Skip say he was goin' to burn you out, an' Reddy asked if he
+counted on doin' it to-night. He 'lowed he wouldn't, 'cause he'd got to
+go over to Jersey City; but he's bound to, the very first evenin' he can
+get away without anybody's knowin' what he's up to. He says he could put
+a lot of papers an' shavin's in these boxes, an' you'd be scorched some
+before you got out."
+
+Carrots was on the point of laughing at this revelation of Skip's plot,
+much as if he questioned the latter's courage to do such a thing, when
+he observed Teddy, who was silent and looking very grave.
+
+"Why, you don't b'lieve they'd dare to burn us out?" he asked in
+surprise.
+
+"I ain't so sure 'bout that. Skip Jellison's a feller that dares to do
+'most anything, if he thinks he can get through with it an' not be
+caught. It would be a mighty serious scrape for us if the boxes should
+get on fire while we were here. If any one saw us comin' out they'd say
+sure we did it. You might talk till you were blue in the face, if they
+knew that we had had candles here, an' not make 'em think we didn't do
+the mischief."
+
+"By jiminy! you're right!" Carrots exclaimed, as he began to realize
+what their position would be under such circumstances. "Don't you think
+we'd better tell the folks in the store what Skip's countin' on doin'?"
+
+"That wouldn't do any good. He'd swear it wasn't so, an' all we'd make
+out of it would be our havin' to leave."
+
+"It seems as if that was what we'd got to do anyhow, if he's goin' to
+set this place on fire."
+
+"Of course."
+
+Carrots was surprised that his partner should agree with him so readily,
+and asked:
+
+"Do you really think we ought ter go away from here?"
+
+"That's jest the size of it. 'Cordin' to my way of figurin', we're apt
+to get ourselves into a fuss by stayin'; an', although it'll be hard
+work to find as snug a place, I reckon it's safer to go."
+
+Carrots was instantly plunged into the lowest depths of sorrow.
+
+Never before had the packing-case home seemed so beautiful as now, when
+it appeared necessary to leave it.
+
+"I'd like to see somebody thrash that Skip! He's hardly fit to live!"
+
+"The best way's to let him alone. He'll bring himself up with a short
+turn before long," Teddy replied, confidently, and then relapsed into
+thoughtful silence.
+
+"Well, when are we goin' to move?" Carrots asked, after a pause, during
+which he gazed intently at the flame of the candle, trying very hard to
+see there the picture of the establishment which he fondly hoped would
+soon belong to the thriving young firm of Thurston and Williams.
+
+"We'd better look 'round the first thing to-morrow. I began to think
+Skip was up to somethin', 'cause we didn't see him. If he hadn't had an
+idea in his head 'bout how to serve us out, he'd been up 'round City
+Hall to-day."
+
+Then it was Carrots's turn to remain silent, and not a word was spoken
+until Ikey timidly ventured to ask if they had decided not to eat supper
+on this night.
+
+This caused them to remember that they were hungry; but neither felt
+disposed to linger long over the meal, and at an unusually early hour
+the candle was put out as the inmates of the box laid themselves down
+to rest for what all three believed would be the last time in that
+locality.
+
+It was Teddy who awakened the others next morning, and, as Carrots
+opened his eyes, he exclaimed petulantly:
+
+"What's the use of turnin' a feller out now? The sun ain't up yet."
+
+"But it will be pretty soon, an' we've got a good deal on hand to-day,"
+Teddy replied. "Ikey must go with us, for he mightn't get a chance to
+get away in the daytime, an' it won't do to stay here another night."
+
+It was a sad-visaged party that filed out of the narrow passage leading
+to the street, in the growing light of the early dawn, and made its way,
+without special aim or purpose, toward the customary place of business.
+
+It was decided Ikey should be left upon one of the settees in the park,
+while the others went on a tour of investigation for the purpose of
+finding new lodgings, and then the party separated with the
+understanding that they would meet an hour later to partake of
+breakfast.
+
+Carrots was the first to keep this appointment, and he looked
+exceedingly low-spirited when he seated himself by the side of the
+invalid, who had not yet sufficiently recovered to be able to take very
+much exercise in the way of walking.
+
+"Find anything?" Ikey asked.
+
+"Not a thing! I reckon it'll be many a long day before we'll get another
+place sich as we had down there;" and then Master Carrots indulged once
+more in harsh words against his enemies.
+
+His tirade was interrupted by the arrival of Teddy, who looked as joyous
+as his partner looked despondent, causing the latter to say, in a
+querulous tone:
+
+"It doesn't seem as if you cared very much 'bout what them fellers are
+makin' us do!"
+
+"Well, I reckon you're right, Carrots. P'rhaps it's the best thing ever
+happened, that we had to clear out this mornin'."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"What do you s'pose I've found?"
+
+"Do you mean a place to sleep?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Ain't been buyin' the Astor House, or anything like that?"
+
+"Comes pretty nigh it, Carrots. I've found a stand!"
+
+"I can find dozens of 'em; but that's all the good it'll do."
+
+"But I mean one we can buy."
+
+"Yes, when we've got the money," Carrots replied, impatiently. "Where we
+goin' to stay till we earn as much as we'll need?"
+
+"I can make a trade for this one, with what we've got, by 'greein' to
+come up with fifty cents every day."
+
+"What!" and Carrots sprang to his feet, his face expressive of mingled
+joy and astonishment. "Do you mean to say you know of a feller that'll
+trust us for the money?"
+
+"That's jest it!"
+
+"Let's get right to him before he has time to back out! A feller what
+can make sich a chump of hisself as that might get sneaked off to the
+'sylum before we'd have time to finish up the trade."
+
+"There's no need of hurryin' so awful fast, 'cause this bargain'll wait
+for us an hour anyhow. In the first place, old man, p'rhaps it ain't
+what you're countin' on. It's a good stand enough, an' seems to me is in
+a pretty fair neighbourhood; but the feller what it b'longs to couldn't
+make a go out er it, so had to give it up to the man who owns the
+buildin'."
+
+"Where is it?"
+
+"On Mulberry Street, jest off er Grand. You see, some feller built it
+against the corner store, an' 'greed to pay a dollar a week for the
+trouble of havin' it there. He couldn't raise the rent, an' after he'd
+stayed three months, the shopkeeper took it. Now, I happened to see the
+place, an' went in an' talked with the man. He said it cost twenty
+dollars, an' he'd sell it for ten if we'd 'gree to pay a dollar every
+week for rent, an' fifty cents a day on what we owe him."
+
+"How much you got to put down cash?" Carrots asked, his face clouded
+somewhat as he learned that the establishment was not as desirable as he
+had hoped their future place of residence would be.
+
+"All we can raise."
+
+"What'll that 'mount to?"
+
+"Pretty nigh five dollars; but one of those dollars goes for rent, you
+know."
+
+"Is it big enough to sleep in?"
+
+"Yes; we three could get under the counter without much trouble, an'
+there's a stove b'longs to it, that goes in with the trade."
+
+"But if we open up there won't be anything to sell."
+
+"I've 'lowed that we'll keep back 'bout a dollar to buy papers with, an'
+then, if both of us work mighty hard, it won't be more'n three or four
+days before we can have a pretty good lot of stuff. You'll keep right on
+shinin', an' I'll do my level best with papers, while Ikey 'tends to the
+stand till he gets well. 'Cordin' to my way of thinkin', we can build up
+a good trade there if we hustle; an' that's what we've got to do
+wherever we go. Now, what do you say to it?"
+
+"Let's go an' see the place," Carrots said, after a moment's pause, and
+Ikey slid down from the settee, as if to intimate that he intended to
+accompany the party.
+
+Teddy started off at once, for it was his belief there should be no time
+lost, in case they concluded to make the trade, because of the fact that
+the hour for regular business was close at hand.
+
+On arriving at the stand, Carrots's first impression was very favourable
+toward the purchase.
+
+It was painted green, not as bright as if the colour had just been laid
+on, but sufficiently so to satisfy him regarding the supposed "luck,"
+and quite as roomy inside as Teddy had stated.
+
+The only apparent drawback was regarding the business location, for it
+was a short distance off the regular line of travel, and this fact
+Master Carrots noted at once.
+
+"That's so," Teddy replied, when the objections were stated; "and I
+thought about all that while I was comin' down to tell you. It seems to
+me as if we might get up a good trade 'round among these stores, by
+'greein' to bring the papers just as soon as they was out, an', with
+three of us to pitch in, we could live right up to all our promises. As
+I said before, we've got to work a good deal harder than we've been
+doin'."
+
+"It doesn't seem to me as if we could do that. I've been humpin' myself
+the best I knew how the last two days."
+
+"That's so, Carrots; but you could run 'round a little more, I reckon,
+if by doin' it we was to own a stand right away."
+
+"Oh, I'm willin' to go in, an' you shall be the boss."
+
+"Then we'll buy it," Teddy said, decidedly. "I've got to rush down after
+the money."
+
+"Did you leave it under the boxes?"
+
+"Yes, I didn't want to lug it 'round all day."
+
+"But I thought we'd 'greed not to go back."
+
+"I 'lowed to go down the first thing after we knocked off. It's all safe
+enough, anyhow. You stay here till I get back."
+
+Teddy was off like a flash, and, impatient though Carrots was to have
+the business arrangements completed, his partner returned before he
+thought there had been sufficient time for Teddy to make the journey.
+
+The preliminaries were quickly arranged, once they were ready to pay
+over the money, and, leaving Ikey in charge of the empty stand, the
+proud proprietors went hurriedly down-town, Teddy saying, as he parted
+with the clerk: "I'll come back soon's I can, with the mornin' papers,
+and we'll open right up."
+
+"I'll get things fixed before then, if I can borrow a broom, 'cause the
+inside of the place must be cleaned up," the new clerk replied, thus
+showing that he was attentive to the interests of his employers.
+
+If Carrots had done as he wished, every newsboy and bootblack in the
+lower portion of the city would have known that he and Teddy had gone
+regularly into business; but the latter was adverse to proclaiming the
+news so soon.
+
+"Better hold on a day or two, an' see how it pans out," the cautious
+merchant advised. "You see, if it should bust up the first thing, the
+fellers would laugh at us. We're bound to stay a week, now the money's
+paid; but how long a time is that to brag 'bout? I want ter know if
+we're goin' to stick, before I say anything."
+
+"When will you 'gree to tell the fellers?"
+
+"If we can pay our bills an' have enough left to keep the stock up, by a
+week from to-day you shall go 'round to spread the news, an' I won't
+open my mouth till you've seen every feller you know."
+
+This was satisfactory to the junior partner, and he promised to attend
+to his work in the lower portion of the city as if nothing out of the
+usual course of events had happened, even though the firm of Thurston
+and Williams had actually sprung into existence in a proper and a
+business-like manner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE CONFLAGRATION.
+
+
+It is doubtful if Carrots often had a harder task than that of remaining
+silent on the subject of the news-stand, when he went down-town to work
+immediately after it had been purchased.
+
+He had allowed himself to dwell upon the possibility of owning an
+interest in a stand, with a magnificent chair attached for the benefit
+of customers to the bootblacking portion of the establishment, from the
+moment Teddy first spoke of the scheme; and now that it was really a
+fact, with the exception of the chair, it seemed particularly hard that
+he must keep the startling and pleasing information a profound secret.
+
+"P'rhaps it's jest as well not to flash it up on the boys till after we
+get the whole thing in style--bootblack's quarters an' all," he said to
+himself in the hope of cheering his mind. "When she's in shape I reckon
+some of the fellers in this town will find out that I can do a thing or
+two, even if my hair _is_ red!"
+
+The fact that he was soon to become famous in the eyes of his friends,
+if not of the entire world, did not prevent Carrots from plunging into
+the vortex of business with his whole heart; for he understood how
+necessary it was to earn the extra money which would be needed until
+the business establishment was in a proper financial condition, and he
+worked most industriously.
+
+It was hard to keep his thoughts upon the cleaning of muddy boots when
+he knew that at that moment Ikey was presiding over the stand with a
+"whole dollar's worth" of stock in front of him, and more than once was
+he tempted to leave his business sufficiently long to take just one peep
+at the place.
+
+"I could sneak up there, an' look 'round the corner without anybody's
+seein' me," he said to himself once when trade was dull; but,
+remembering what Teddy had told him regarding the necessity of
+"hustling," he put the temptation far from his mind.
+
+He did, however, so far give an inkling of the change in his business
+prospects, as to say, when Teenie Massey spoke about the difficulty of
+finding customers:
+
+"P'rhaps there's some in this town what won't have to run 'round after
+trade very long; but can sit down an' wait for boots to come to them."
+
+"What do you mean?" Teenie asked, excitedly.
+
+"Nothin' much; but you'll see somethin' to 'stonish you before many
+years."
+
+"I reckon I will," Teenie replied with a sigh, as he thought how the
+time might drag if he should be forced to wait so long before seeing
+anything astonishing. "Heard from Skip this mornin'?"
+
+"No, an' I'm takin' mighty good care to keep out of his way when the
+three of us ain't together. I wonder if he'll have the nerve to set them
+boxes afire?"
+
+"I shouldn't wonder. Where are you goin' to sleep to-night?"
+
+"Well, you see it's hard to say, 'cause all the swell places might be
+full when we get through business. I didn't know but I'd telephone up to
+the Hoffman for quarters; yet there's a good deal of trouble in doin'
+sich a thing."
+
+"Yes," Teenie replied, sarcastically, "an' it might be quite a bother to
+pay the bill for the message."
+
+"I'd be willin' to hang it up, if I was countin' on doin' anything of
+that kind."
+
+"Yes, but the other folks might have somethin' to say 'bout it. It'll be
+cheaper to hunt for a cart somewhere, or go down to the Lodgin' House."
+
+If Teenie had questioned him more closely, Carrots might have been
+tempted to tell his friend some ridiculous yarn, rather than reveal the
+secret of the stand; but, fortunately, there was no necessity of his
+doing anything of the kind, for just at that moment the bootblacking
+industry received a decided impetus by the arrival of three gentlemen
+from the country, who required the services of Carrots and his friend.
+
+Not until nearly noon did Master Williams see his partner, and then he
+met him by chance on the way to the newspaper offices for a fresh stock.
+
+"How's trade?" Teddy asked.
+
+"First-class. I've taken in eighty cents since I began; but it's
+slackenin' off a little now. How're you gettin' along?"
+
+"Great! It seems as if it wasn't any trouble to sell papers to-day.
+Say, at this rate we can get in a bigger stock by night."
+
+"That's what we want," Carrots replied, gravely, looking as serious as
+if he had just been called upon to decide a very important question
+relative to some business policy. "We ought ter make as big a show as we
+can, 'cause folks will see the stand has been opened ag'in, an' they'll
+look 'round the first thing to find out if we've got much of a stock. Of
+course we're goin' to keep all the weekly papers, ain't we?"
+
+"I don't know if we ought ter put out so much money yet a while."
+
+"'Course we ought. Pitch in an' have things fine. We can 'ford to invest
+what's been made to-day, and you'd better buy the stuff right away,"
+Carrots said as he handed Teddy the money he had earned. "I'll get more
+between now an' night to buy the supper with, so you don't want ter tend
+to anything like that."
+
+Teddy was undecided as to whether this would be a wise move, so soon
+after taking upon themselves the expense of paying rent; but his partner
+was so eager it should be done that he finally consented, and hurried
+away to buy the additional stock, while Carrots searched for customers.
+
+It seemed strange to both the merchants that Skip Jellison made no
+effort to annoy them on this day, and they could account for it only on
+the supposition that he did really intend to carry out his plan of
+destroying the packing-case home by fire.
+
+No one should censure Carrots for ceasing his labors at an unusually
+early hour because of the fact that he was exceedingly anxious to see
+his place of business in full operation, with a clerk behind the
+counter.
+
+In addition to this desire, he had promised himself that, if trade
+should be brisk, he would purchase a regular feast as a sort of
+house-warming, a task which would require no slight amount of time.
+
+And business had been sufficiently good to warrant his indulging in his
+treat.
+
+He did not remember ever having made so much money, in the same length
+of time, as on this day the stand was opened.
+
+He had given to Teddy his entire receipts of the forenoon, and yet, an
+hour before sunset, he had taken in sixty cents more, which was at least
+twice as much as he thought would be necessary for his purpose.
+
+So determined was he that the feast should be a perfect success that
+fully an hour was spent in selecting the different articles, and then he
+walked swiftly toward their new establishment.
+
+It did not suit Carrots's purpose to go directly to the stand.
+
+He wished to view it first at a distance, and from the most favorable
+point, therefore he came up Grand Street, and stood on the opposite
+corner fully ten minutes enjoying the scene, before making known his
+presence to the "clerk."
+
+"Well," he said to himself, in a tone of satisfaction, as he surveyed
+the stand critically, "if there's a better-lookin' place in this city,
+I'd like to see it, that's all! Why, it seems to be chuck full of
+papers! An' don't the pictures show up great? Well, I should say they
+did! I wish it was a _little_ greener; but if business gits good we can
+give it a new coat of paint some night. An' I own half of all that! I'm
+comin' it mighty strong, 'cordin' to my way of--Jiminy!--Ikey's sellin'
+somethin' now!"
+
+Carrots could not remain concealed.
+
+Money was actually being paid into his establishment by a customer who
+had come there of his own free will, and the junior partner of the firm
+of Thurston and Williams felt it impossible to stay away from the
+enchanting place any longer.
+
+Running swiftly across the street he threw his many packages on the
+counter with the air of a proprietor, just in time to see Ikey pass the
+gentleman ten cents in change.
+
+"What did he give you?" Carrots asked, excitedly.
+
+"A quarter."
+
+"What--a quarter?" the young merchant exclaimed in surprise. "Do you
+mean to tell me he bought fifteen cents' worth all at one time?"
+
+"Course I do," Ikey replied, as if he was accustomed to making such
+large sales. "Why, I had one man who got twenty cents' worth, an' he
+asked me if the stand was goin' to be kept open right along now."
+
+"Did you tell him who owned it?"
+
+"Of course; an' he said he'd buy his papers here all the time."
+
+"Well, I'm a Dutchman if I thought business was so big with a stand! I
+can't see what made the other feller give it up. How much money did you
+take in altogether?"
+
+"Let's see," and Ikey knit his brow as he called upon his memory to aid
+him in the account. "There was two dollars 'n' forty-two cents, an' now
+I've got fifteen more; that makes--forty-two an' ten is fifty-two, an'
+five is fifty-seven--two dollars 'n' fifty-seven cents."
+
+"Well, I'll be jiggered!" and Carrots found it necessary to enter the
+stand for the purpose of seeing and handling the money before he could
+be convinced his clerk had told him no more than the truth.
+
+"Well, 'cordin' to the looks of things we've struck a reg'lar gold mine
+here; an' it won't be very long before I can git a chair that'll knock
+the_I_talian's all out er sight!"
+
+"If my leg wasn't so lame I could make a good deal more; but you see I
+don't dare to jump on an' off the cars."
+
+"Put those things under the counter, an' give me a pile of papers!"
+Carrots cried. "We'll soon know what this kind of trade is worth."
+
+When Teddy returned from down-town, believing business to be finished
+for the day, Carrots was still actively engaged; and not until nearly
+eight o'clock did either of the partners think it prudent to cease work.
+
+"That's what I call makin' things hum!" Carrots said as the two entered
+the stand, after "shutting up shop" by raising the shutter which served
+as a counter during the day. "I've sold sixteen papers since I come up
+to-night, an' might 'a' done a good deal more if the stock hadn't run
+out. How much do you s'pose we've made?"
+
+"We'll soon know, after I go for a candle," Teddy replied.
+
+"I bought three, so's we could have a reg'lar blowout for the first
+night," Carrots said, as he produced the articles in question. "You
+figure up, an' I'll get the grub together."
+
+It was necessary Teddy should take an account of the stock on hand
+before the profits could be ascertained, and then, to the surprise of
+his partner and clerk, he announced that the amount which had been made
+in both branches of the business was three dollars and sixty-one cents.
+
+"Now, if that ain't getting rich fast, I'd like to know what you'd call
+it!" Carrots exclaimed, as he ceased his labor of slicing a Bologna
+sausage, to verify his partner's figures. "If things keep on at this
+rate it won't be sich a dreadful while before we'll have to rent a
+reg'lar store."
+
+"It's a good deal bigger'n I expected," Teddy admitted; "an' we mustn't
+count on doin' the same every day. Half as well will satisfy me."
+
+"But we shall make twice as much if the hoss-cars an' stores are worked.
+Jest wait till I get a chair here, so's I can keep the trade hummin'
+when there isn't any shinin' to be done, an' you'll see how the money's
+bound to come tumblin' in. The feller what gave up this stand must 'a'
+been a chump!"
+
+"I don't s'pose he 'tended to business," Teddy said, solemnly, as he
+placed the stock on a shelf, and prepared to join in the feast. "This
+place is goin' to be mighty snug to live in; but it isn't so handy as
+the yard, 'cause a feller's got to hunt 'round for water when he wants
+to wash his face."
+
+"If trade keeps on like this I'll 'gree not to let a drop of water come
+near me for a year," Carrots exclaimed.
+
+"An' the customers would keep away too, I reckon. But say, Carrots,
+isn't this goin' it rather strong for supper?" Teddy asked almost
+sternly, as he gazed at the newspaper spread on the floor of the stand,
+and heaped high with such delicacies as "bolivars," Bolognas, and
+pickled sheep's tongues.
+
+"I reckon it is; but you see it's the first night, an' I counted on
+spreadin' myself some. There's three of us, you know, so it takes a lot
+of grub to go 'round."
+
+"It won't do to keep this thing up," Teddy said, as he shook his head
+gravely.
+
+"Course not; but to-night doesn't count. Now pitch right in, both of
+you, an' let's have a high old time."
+
+Ikey had already begun to do his share, and, as the others joined him,
+the silence within the stand was broken only by Carrots's gasps, for he
+ate so eagerly that he hardly gave himself time to breathe properly.
+
+The candle was standing in one corner, in a bottle, while under the
+counter was a pile of straw which Ikey had gathered to serve as beds;
+and these gave the place such an air of home as, according to Carrots's
+ideas, it would be hard to find elsewhere.
+
+"I sha'n't go to the Hoffman House agin'," he said in a tone of content,
+as he gazed around complacently after it was absolutely impossible to
+eat any more. "This is about the swellest place in this city, an' the
+fellers'd be wild if they could see us. Mighty lucky for you, Ikey, that
+we got this stand jest as we did, for now you won't have to lay low
+while your leg's gettin' well."
+
+"It's a dandy!" Ikey replied, enthusiastically, "an' I wouldn't ask
+anythin' better'n to stay here all the time."
+
+"If trade keeps on as it's begun, I reckon we can 'ford to hire you
+right along, eh, Teddy?"
+
+Before Master Thurston could reply, the clang and rattle of a
+fire-engine broke upon the stillness, and all three rushed out of the
+stand in the shortest possible time.
+
+"It's down near where I used to live!" Carrots cried, as he saw the
+engine turning the corner. "Do you s'pose Skip has really dared to do
+what he threatened?"
+
+"Ikey, you'll have to stay here 'cause you can't run," Teddy said,
+hurriedly. "Keep the door locked, an' Carrots and I'll come right back."
+
+Then the partners started at full speed; and, although they had been
+warned that such might be the case, both were astonished almost beyond
+the power of speech, at finding that the blaze actually proceeded from
+the backyard where Carrots had spent so many nights.
+
+[Illustration: "'HOW DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?' TEDDY ASKED,
+STERNLY."]
+
+"He's really gone an' done it!" Master Williams exclaimed in a tone of
+awe, and just at that moment Reddy Jackson stepped from among the
+network of hose, whence he had evidently been trying to peer into the
+yard.
+
+"Why, how did you come _here_?" he cried in astonishment. "I thought
+there wasn't any other way but this, to get out from where you sleep."
+
+"How did you know Carrots lived here?" Teddy asked, sternly.
+
+"Why, some of the fellers told me, of course," Master Jackson replied,
+hesitatingly.
+
+"They didn't; 'cause nobody knew except Teenie Massey, an' I'm sure he
+hasn't said anything," Carrots cried. "I've heard 'bout Skip's
+threatenin' to burn this place, an' it was Skip that started the fire."
+
+"What're you yellin' so for?" Reddy cried, nervously. "Do you want
+everybody to hear?"
+
+"I don't care if they do," said Carrots, sturdily.
+
+"Skip'll be after you, if he knows you're sayin' sich things. He ain't
+through with you an' this country jay yet."
+
+"No; nor he won't be till he gives up that dollar he stole," Teddy said,
+sternly. "If he isn't 'rested for settin' this place on fire, you tell
+him I'll be down front of City Hall by seven o'clock to-morrow mornin',
+so's he can begin the drivin'. Let him git all his friends there, an'
+show 'em the fun."
+
+"Oh, yes, you'll be there, o' course!" Reddy replied with a sneer.
+
+"Don't make any mistake 'bout it. I'm comin' down to give him his
+chance."
+
+"Want ter git inter the station-house ag'in, eh? They must 'a' treated
+you mighty fine."
+
+"Don't you worry about my bein' 'rested, an' if Skip Jellison cares to
+see me after what he's done to-night, let him be there," Teddy said, in
+a dignified tone, as he motioned for Carrots to follow him to the
+opposite side of the street, where they could be nearly alone.
+
+"What kind of a row are you goin' to git inter now?" Carrots asked, his
+voice literally trembling with fear. "Of course Skip'll be in front of
+City Hall, 'cause there's where he always hangs out. You must keep clear
+of that place."
+
+"I want him to see me when there's a big crowd 'round, an' I'm goin' to
+get some of that money he stole, between now an' to-morrow night," Teddy
+said, in such a positive tone that Carrots was plunged into
+bewilderment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+THE CHALLENGE.
+
+
+The fireman were able to put out the fire before it had done serious
+damage, save to the packing-cases; and Teddy had hardly sent the
+challenge to Skip Jellison before, one by one, the engines were hauled
+away.
+
+Reddy did not follow when they crossed to the other side of the street.
+He was probably afraid he might be charged with having taken some part
+in starting the blaze, and did not care to remain near those who had no
+hesitation about saying what they thought.
+
+"We might as well go back," Teddy said, several moments after the
+firemen began to disperse. "We'll go round by Broadway for fear some of
+the fellers will find out where we're livin' now."
+
+Then, for the first time since receiving Teddy's promise that Skip
+should be forced to return the money he had stolen, was it possible for
+Carrots to speak freely.
+
+"If you haven't got yourself in a fine mess, then I don't know!" he
+exclaimed. "Jest as likely as not this'll break up the stand!"
+
+"Don't you worry 'bout that, Carrots. I shall come out all right. It's
+got to be fixed right away, else there's no knowin' what Skip Jellison
+may do. I didn't count on beginning so soon; but now he's shown that he
+dares to set fires, I'd be worried for our new place, if something
+wasn't done."
+
+"But what do you reckon on doin'?"
+
+"You come with me, and you'll hear and see the whole thing. It's going
+to spoil our day's work; but that can't be helped, for it's time he was
+straightened out. We'll get the papers for Ikey, an' then have a look at
+this bully who's willing to risk burning us up."
+
+Teddy evidently had a well-defined scheme in his mind; but he did not
+intend to confide in any one until the proper moment.
+
+By going a long way round the boys were able to reach their new home
+without meeting any acquaintances; and, once there, preparations were
+made for the night, Carrots meanwhile explaining to Ikey what they had
+seen and heard.
+
+"That Skip will try to break up this stand just as soon as he knows
+you've got it," the clerk said, positively.
+
+Carrots expected Teddy would make some reply to this remark; but the boy
+from Saranac did not speak, and before long his companions were asleep.
+
+It was daylight next morning when Teddy woke his partner, and, leaving
+their clerk still asleep, the two hurried to the newspaper offices for
+the day's supply.
+
+Few other newsboys had begun work when Messrs. Thurston and Williams had
+the stand open, with a stock sufficient to satisfy all the customers
+Ikey might have.
+
+A breakfast was made on the remainder of the previ ous night's feast,
+and then Teddy and Carrots "worked the hoss-cars," as the latter
+expressed it, until a quarter before seven.
+
+"Come on; it's time to go," Teddy said, as he deposited his share of the
+stock on the counter. "Keep your eyes open while we're gone, Ikey,
+because it may be quite a while before we get back."
+
+Carrots followed his partner in silence, and the clocks were striking
+seven when they arrived at the City Hall.
+
+"Don't go over there yet," Carrots said, nervously, as he pointed toward
+a group of boys. "Skip has got every feller in town with him. You're
+certain to get the worst of it."
+
+"He can't have too many to please me," Teddy replied, boldly; and then,
+to Carrots's surprise, he turned and walked directly toward the enemy.
+
+"Here he comes! an' now we'll see what a country jay looks like when he
+gits ready to leave town!" was Skip's greeting; and his particular
+cronies thought the remark so very funny that they laughed long and
+loud.
+
+"I'm not thinking about going out of the city," Teddy said, firmly; "so
+I'm afraid it won't be such an awful good show."
+
+"Then what are you coming round here for?" Skip asked, as he advanced
+threateningly.
+
+"In the first place I've come for that money you stole from Carrots, and
+when that has been given up, I'll tell you what else I want," said
+Teddy, quietly.
+
+"You'll be gray-headed before you get anything out of me, 'cept a whack
+on the head!"
+
+"Yes, you're said to be a great fighter, I know," was Teddy's remark;
+"but you'd better make all your fight 'round here where you know the
+police will stop a row before anybody has a chance to hurt you. It's
+safer!"
+
+"I'll make my fight anywhere I please," Skip blustered.
+
+"Then if you've got half the pluck you claim, show us a place where it
+can be done in shape," answered Teddy, sharply. "I'm here with nothing
+to do but settle matters. I'm going to stay in the town right along, and
+I can't be bothered with you all the time. If you get the best of me
+when we're where nobody'll interfere with us, I'll leave; an' if I get
+the best of you, why, then I'll get back my dollar, an' you'll have to
+behave yourself."
+
+Boys like pluck, and even Skip's friends applauded this remark. Teddy's
+business-like offer pleased them wonderfully, and they had no doubt the
+bully would agree at once. But, to the surprise of all, Skip remained
+silent.
+
+"He don't dare do it!" Teenie jeered. "He's afraid of gettin' the worst
+of it--same's he did that day over in Brooklyn!"
+
+"Hold your tongue!" Master Jellison answered, looking angrily around
+him. "Do you fellers s'pose that I'm scared of him?"
+
+"If you ain't, why don't you do as he says?" asked Teenie.
+
+"I've got to 'tend to my work," Skip stammered, "that's why I can't;
+but I'll give him a poundin' now, an' let that settle it."
+
+"If you try to touch me here where we're sure of being arrested, I'll
+have you locked up for stealin'," Teddy said, sternly. "I could do that,
+anyway; but I'd rather manage my own affairs. I don't see how you can be
+too busy to leave for an hour, because you haven't done any work since
+you said you'd drive me out of town. I'll go wherever you say, an' the
+rest of the fellers shall promise to leave us alone till one of us says
+he's had enough!"
+
+"Of course he's goin' to tackle the countryman!" Reddy Jackson said in
+reply to some of his friends, who at this moment began to express in an
+undertone their belief that "Skip was scared!"
+
+Then Reddy took Skip aside and began to talk to him very earnestly, the
+others, meanwhile, discussing whether the bully was afraid.
+
+It must have been plain to Skip that, if he did not wish to be despised
+by all whom he had cowed so long, it was necessary to accept Teddy's
+challenge; for there were at least a dozen in the throng who had some
+grudge against the young tyrant, and if he "showed the white feather" so
+publicly, there could be no question that the injured ones would try to
+revenge themselves, believing it could be done safely.
+
+"I'm willin' to go an' thrash this feller, of course," Skip said,
+suddenly, as he stepped forward once more. "I _did_ count on doin' a
+good day's work, 'cause I've been takin' it easy so long; but I reckon I
+can spare the little time I need to settle him off. See here, now--I
+don't want any one in the crowd to beg off for him after I get started."
+
+"Neither do I," added Teddy, promptly. "He says I can't stay in the
+town, an' I want that settled once for all; so the rest of the crowd are
+to hold back, never mind who's havin' the worst of the trade."
+
+"You can count on fair play," a member of the party said, decidedly,
+and, as this speaker had always been believed to be one of Skip's
+warmest supporters, there seemed to be no question that Teddy would be
+treated well during the coming conflict.
+
+"Do you s'pose you can get the best of him?" Carrots asked, in an
+anxious whisper, as, under the guidance of one of the party, all hands
+started toward a certain quiet and secluded spot, which had been
+suggested by Sid Barker.
+
+"Well, I'll try mighty hard," said Teddy. "I don't take much stock in
+fightin', Carrots, but this is somethin' that's got to be done, or we'd
+never be able to run the stand."
+
+This remark sounded to Carrots very much as if his partner had serious
+doubts regarding the outcome of the engagement, and, secretly, the
+junior partner began to indulge in the most gloomy forebodings.
+
+Teddy had very little to say, but Skip, who walked among the leaders of
+the party, took pains to boast, in a very loud tone, of what he proposed
+to do with "the greenhorn after he'd broken him all up."
+
+Sid conducted the throng to an untenanted stable in the rear of some
+dwellings on West Broadway, and said, as he led them through a
+convenient opening:
+
+"I reckon you might fight here a month without anybody hearing you.
+Could you find anything better'n this?"
+
+Most of the boys were loud in their praises of the spot; but it really
+seemed as if Skip fancied it too retired.
+
+"He'd rather be where the cops would come," Carrots whispered to Teddy.
+"I do believe he's afraid already; an' I tell you, Teddy, if you can
+thrash Skip well, it'll be the biggest kind of a thing for a lot of
+fellers I know of in this town!"
+
+"I reckon I'll be all right. Don't you even say a word, no matter what
+happens, and I think when our little scrap is finished, he won't have
+anything more to say about our leaving the city."
+
+It did not require many moments to settle the terms of combat.
+
+Half a dozen of the larger members of the party arranged the details by
+promising to whip any fellow who should attempt to interfere, and then
+the word was given.
+
+Teddy did not immediately put himself in an attitude of defence, but,
+addressing the spectators, said:
+
+"I don't want any feller to think I came here 'cause I'm fond of fight.
+Skip Jellison has said I've got to leave town, and that Carrots must,
+too, just because he helped me. He tried to drive me away by stealing a
+dollar of my money from Carrots, and then he set the box pile on fire
+last night to smoke us out, or something worse. All I want of him is to
+give up the cash, and agree to let us alone. If he's willing to do that,
+there's no need of this row; but if he don't, I shall fight him the best
+I know how."
+
+Skip's only reply was to rush forward angrily, and an instant later the
+battle was on.
+
+It is very doubtful if even Carrots could have told much about the
+struggle, so suddenly was it begun and so soon ended.
+
+Carrots told Ikey that same morning:
+
+"It didn't seem as if Skip had a chance to put up his hands, before he
+was flat on his back; and every time he tried to stand up, he got
+another dose of the same medicine, till it was over."
+
+In less than five minutes, Teddy was the conqueror, without a scratch,
+and Skip, lying at full length on the stable floor, was howling
+frantically for some one to "hold that Saranac jay."
+
+"He hasn't thumped you half enough!" Sid Barker said, angrily, to the
+prostrate bully. "What are you yellin' like that for? Teddy ain't
+anywhere near you! To think that we fellers have let you pretty nigh run
+this town for as much as a year, when you wouldn't fight a mouse, unless
+you got the first clip at him!"
+
+After a time, Skip was made to understand that Teddy had no idea of
+administering more punishment, and he was about to scramble to his feet,
+when the boy from Saranac stopped him by saying:
+
+"Part of what I came here for was the dollar you stole, and as soon as
+you give that up the row will be over; but you don't leave this place
+till I get it."
+
+"I haven't kept a cent! Reddy an' Sid got the same as I did!" Skip
+cried, cringing now as shamefully as he had ever bullied.
+
+[Illustration: "'WHAT ARE YOU YELLIN' LIKE THAT FOR?' SAID SID."]
+
+"All I know is that you took it, an' you've got to give it up," Teddy
+remarked, decidedly.
+
+"I'll let you have some to-morrow," Skip replied, with a whine.
+
+"We've come here to settle matters," Teddy insisted, "an' this is the
+place to square up. I can't afford to lose another morning's work on
+account of you."
+
+Skip finally found eighteen cents, and then tried to borrow the rest
+from those whom he had counted as friends; but not one of his late
+admirers would have anything to do with him. He had shown himself to be
+a coward as well as a bully, and now his bitterest enemies were those
+with whom he had seemed most popular. Teddy soon understood that Skip
+had told the truth, and that he could not regain the whole amount
+stolen. So he said, as he took the eighteen cents on account:
+
+"This will do for now; but you've got to come up with the balance by
+to-morrow night, or there'll be trouble. While you were talking so loud
+about pounding me, it would have looked as if I was scared an' didn't
+dare to do anything but go to the police, if I'd had you arrested. But
+now that every feller knows how much your brag amounts to, I'll have you
+right into court if the money isn't paid at the time I said. While I'm
+in court, it wouldn't be very queer if I should have somethin' to say
+'bout the fire we saw last night."
+
+"I'll pay back every cent just as soon as I can get it," Skip wailed.
+
+"You'll have till to-morrow night," said Teddy, firmly, "but no longer.
+I don't think there's any need to tell you what'll be done if you try to
+bother Carrots or me again."
+
+Then, although many of Skip's friends were eager to cultivate his
+acquaintance, Teddy left the barn in the same quiet way he had entered;
+and Carrots followed close behind, saying, when they were where the
+words could not be overheard:
+
+"Well, Teddy, who'd 'a' thought you was such a fighter?"
+
+"But I'm not!" Teddy replied, sharply. "I don't believe in that sort of
+thing; but the way matters were going I thought it was somethin' that
+had to be done."
+
+"And you did it in great shape!" Carrots insisted. "Even if we never get
+another cent of our dollar back I'll be satisfied, 'cause that bully
+Skip's done for in this town now. He can't scare any more fellers, an' I
+reckon all Teenie Massey said about that Brooklyn fight was true."
+
+"Don't let's talk of it, Carrots. I'm goin' to work, an' you'd better do
+the same, 'cause we've got a mighty big contract on our hands now, with
+so much rent to pay, an' a clerk to feed."
+
+Carrots would have liked nothing better than to have remained there
+discussing all the incidents of the short battle during the next hour or
+two; but Teddy put an end to the talk by hurrying away for a stock of
+papers, and the bootblack could do no less than go in search of
+customers.
+
+He had every chance to talk about Teddy's prowess during the remainder
+of that day, however.
+
+Every boy who knew Skip had something to say about the fallen bully;
+and, naturally, such remarks were followed by praise for Teddy, who had
+settled his troubles in such a business-like fashion.
+
+Teenie Massey was so excited because of Skip's downfall that it was
+almost impossible for him to attend to any business during the next
+twenty-four hours. He told the story over and over again to such of his
+friends as were so unlucky as not to have witnessed the great combat.
+
+None of Carrots's friends saw Skip during the remainder of that day; he
+disappeared from view as completely as if the earth had opened and
+swallowed him, and there was no sorrow because of his absence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+PROSPERITY.
+
+
+If Teddy believed that his new admirers would allow him to go on quietly
+with his business immediately after punishing Skip Jellison, he was
+mistaken.
+
+The bully had terrorized the bootblacks and newsboys who pursued their
+callings in the vicinity of the City Hall, during the previous year,
+without having been called upon to defend himself against one of his own
+size and strength.
+
+As a matter of course it had been necessary to engage in several fights
+for the purpose of sustaining his reputation as a "dangerous character;"
+but he had always been careful to attack some boy smaller than himself,
+or, as in the case of his first assault upon Teddy, had contented
+himself with striking two or three blows suddenly when the victim could
+be taken unawares.
+
+Until the day when Teenie Massey brought the news from Brooklyn that
+Skip had been whipped by a boy not more than half his size, every fellow
+believed Master Jellison to be bold, and skilful in the use of his
+fists.
+
+Even then, most of Skip's followers fancied Teenie had colored the story
+to suit his own purposes. They were willing to give the bully the
+benefit of the doubt, and consequently the surprise of all was very
+great that Teddy had vanquished him so easily.
+
+Since Teddy's victory, however, the opinion of every street merchant in
+the vicinity of Skip's usual haunts was that he "could not fight a
+little bit," and no one was silent on the subject.
+
+The newspaper business was much neglected that morning in order that the
+details of the battle might be told to those who were not present; and
+more than one gentleman with muddy boots wondered what had become of the
+small army of bootblacks who were usually so eager for work.
+
+Teddy's praises were warmly sung; for even Skip's most intimate friends
+felt a certain sense of relief now that his reign was over.
+
+"That feller has got plenty of sand!" Sid Barker said, admiringly, after
+he had repeated his story of the bully's downfall for at least the
+twentieth time; "an' I think we ought to tell him just how we look at
+this thing."
+
+"Do you s'pose he'll get his money back?" Teenie asked, in his shrill
+voice.
+
+"Not a bit of it! Skip never'll show up 'round here again; an' if he
+did, how'll he raise the cash?"
+
+"He says you an' Reddy got a share."
+
+"I won't say that we didn't," Sid replied, promptly; "an' I'm goin' to
+give Teddy back my part before noon."
+
+"So am I," Reddy added. "I've got it now, an' am willin' to hunt him up
+this minute, if you say the word."
+
+"Come on," Sid replied, as he started in the direction of South Ferry,
+for it was well known by all that Teddy was doing business in that part
+of the city.
+
+As a matter of course every fellow who heard this offer was eager to be
+present when the payment was made to Teddy, and the crowd of newsboys
+who marched down Broadway was so large as to attract considerable
+attention.
+
+When the small army arrived at the head of Cortlandt Street, Carrots met
+them; and, it is needless to say, he halted in astonishment and some
+alarm.
+
+His first thought was that Skip's friends had come together for the
+purpose of taking revenge upon the boy who had chastised the bully, and
+he remained motionless an instant, wondering whether it would not be the
+better part of valour to seek safety in flight.
+
+A hail from Sid soon dispelled his fears.
+
+"Come on, Carrots! We're goin' down to find your pardner, so's to kinder
+square things. You'd better come, too."
+
+"What do you mean to do?" Carrots asked, as he joined the throng.
+
+"They're goin' to give him back part of the money Skip stole," Teenie
+squeaked; "an' then I reckon he'll work up round the City Hall."
+
+A few moments previous to this meeting it had seemed to Carrots as if he
+desired nothing more, because he was part-owner of a stand, and Skip's
+tyrannical reign had come to an end; but now, if such a thing could be
+possible, he was even more elated than before, and all idea of business
+was forgotten as he followed those who, but a short time previous, were
+his enemies.
+
+It was a regular triumphal march for the amateur farmer, and the
+promises of friendship from every side gave him much pleasure.
+
+"I knew you fellers would like Teddy when you got acquainted with him,"
+he said, gleefully.
+
+"It wouldn't have taken us long to find that out if he'd started in
+different," Reddy Jackson replied. "Why didn't he pitch right inter Skip
+the first thing?"
+
+"How could he when he got in the station-house?" said Carrots. "He
+wouldn't 'a' let Skip get away, then, if that policeman hadn't been
+there."
+
+"But after he got out there wasn't anything done," Sid objected.
+
+"You couldn't expect him to jump into trouble again right away. He had
+to wait so's to fix things, an' then he came out like a little man."
+
+"That's a fact; an' now he can go into any part of this town that he
+likes."
+
+Carrots was strongly tempted to add to the glory of the march by telling
+the story of the stand; but he remembered that as yet his word was
+pledged to his partner, and remained silent.
+
+[Illustration: CARROTS DISPLAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MESSRS. THURSTON
+AND WILLIAMS.]
+
+When the party reached South Ferry, Teddy was found hard at work; and,
+like Carrots, he was at first inclined to believe the advancing force
+boded evil for him. But Sid Barker said, as he handed Teddy twenty-five
+cents:
+
+"What Skip Jellison told 'bout our havin' some of your money was
+straight; an' so we've come here to give it up. Here's all I got, an' if
+I'd know'd what you really were, the money wouldn't 'a' been kept so
+long as this."
+
+"An' here's my share," Reddy added, as he slipped another coin into
+Teddy's hand.
+
+"But it was Skip who stole the money," the boy from Saranac said, with
+some confusion; "an' he ought to give it back."
+
+"I reckon you won't see him very soon," said Reddy. "Skip hasn't got the
+nerve to show his face round here ag'in, for he knows nearly every
+feller has something against him. We used the money he gave us, so it's
+no more'n right we should give it back."
+
+"An' you'd better work round City Hall," Reddy added. "You're a dandy,
+an' if there's anything we can do to help you along, just say the word!"
+
+Teddy protested that business was good enough near the ferries to
+warrant his remaining where he was; but his new friends would listen to
+nothing of the kind.
+
+They insisted so strongly on Teddy's going with them, that he was
+finally forced to yield, and not until the party was marching up
+Broadway did Carrots get a chance to speak privately with his partner.
+Then he whispered:
+
+"Why not tell them about the stand? They're all glad 'cause you thumped
+Skip, an' we needn't be 'fraid any more that they'll try to make trouble
+for us."
+
+"I'd rather have waited till we had a bigger stock, an' you'd paid for
+the chair," said Teddy; "but I s'pose the best way is to give the news
+out now, 'cause they're bound to see the place before long. You can tell
+'em."
+
+Carrots felt very proud when he announced the fact that he and Teddy
+"had gone inter business _reg'lar_;" and he concluded by inviting every
+member of the party up to see the stand that evening.
+
+The one incident of this triumph which did not please Teddy, was the
+fact that he was forced to waste so much time, when he might have been
+adding to his capital; but there did not seem any way to prevent it, and
+he submitted with the best grace he could.
+
+As a matter of course, every member of the party promised to visit the
+partners' establishment before nightfall, and after the news had been
+thoroughly discussed several times more, most of the young merchants
+went about their business.
+
+Teddy never worked harder than during the remainder of that day, and no
+one can blame him for being secretly proud of the victory he had won.
+
+To describe the informal reception held by Messrs. Thurston and Williams
+on this evening would be too great a task.
+
+From five o'clock in the afternoon until late at night the stand was the
+centre of attraction for all Teddy's, Carrots's, or Skip's
+acquaintances; and Master Williams fairly outdid himself as host.
+
+[Illustration: PROSPERITY.]
+
+He explained what they meant to do; showed the new chair which they had
+bought; described how the establishment would look when the new coat of
+green paint was put on, and received more offers of assistance in this
+artistic work than he could well accept.
+
+The partners were thoroughly tired when the last guest took his
+departure, and Teddy said in a tone of satisfaction as he curled himself
+up on his portion of the straw:
+
+"Well, Carrots, I reckon we're here to stay this time!"
+
+"Yes, sir! I reckon we are; an' now I'm beginnin' to think it won't be
+such a dreadful long while before we get a store. Say, that'll be great,
+won't it? I can have my chair inside when it storms; an' what a place
+we'll rig up to sleep in! I'll know what a bed feels like then, an' it
+won't be all ropes, same's that one out to the farm."
+
+Teddy was too nearly asleep to be capable of making any reply, and Ikey
+had been snoring several moments. Therefore Master Williams, giving up
+his attempt at conversation, laid his red head on his arm, and joined
+his companions in their journey to the Land of Nod.
+
+It seems hardly necessary to say that Skip has not been seen since his
+friends forsook him in the stable where his reign as a bully came to an
+end; and even those to whom he owes money have felt no regret because of
+his long absence.
+
+It is quite likely some of the fellows whom he bullied would like a
+short interview for the purpose of "squaring accounts"; but since
+Master Jellison is well aware of this fact, he will probably remain in
+seclusion.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It is a matter of fact that every satisfactory story ends only when the
+principal characters are settled in life, rich and happy; but,
+unfortunately, that cannot be in this case, for it is not many months
+since the day on which Skip was conquered, and in so short a time one
+could hardly expect the young merchants to have made very rapid strides
+toward wealth.
+
+There is a great difference in the appearance of the stand, however. It
+has had at least two coats of the most vivid green paint Carrots could
+purchase; and at one end stands the chair--all paid for--with so much
+brass-work about it as to render it quite dazzling on a sunny day.
+
+Carrots feels very positive it "lays 'way over the_I_talian's," and in
+this he is correct.
+
+Ikey still holds his position as clerk, although his lame leg is healed,
+and he can run about the streets as nimbly as either of his employers.
+
+Teddy and Carrots decided several weeks ago that it would pay them to
+hire a clerk regularly, since both could then go around town in search
+of customers when trade was dull nearer to the stand; and Ikey receives
+as wages his board, his lodging, and fifty cents each week, a great
+improvement over his former state, when he was forced to seek such
+locations for business as the other boys did not want.
+
+Carrots still dreams of the "reg'lar store," and there appears to be no
+reason why his hopes may not be fulfilled.
+
+The amount of capital is larger each day, thanks to the partners'
+industry, and their stock is increasing, too; therefore they will be
+able to make quite a respectable showing when they move into more roomy
+quarters.
+
+Few firms seem likely to be more prosperous than that of "TEDDY AND
+CARROTS."
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEDDY AND CARROTS***
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