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diff --git a/35046.txt b/35046.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..305f5d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/35046.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6375 @@ +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) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 35046-h.htm or 35046-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35046/35046-h/35046-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35046/35046-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://www.archive.org/details/teddycarrotstwom00otis + + + + + +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*** + + +******* This file should be named 35046.txt or 35046.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/5/0/4/35046 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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