TEENIE BRINGS THE "COMMITTEE'S" WARNING.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'snot 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:
beWare Git or Dy this is the Larst Wornin The Nex time Comes Deth The CommitEbeWArEGiT or Dythis is theLArstWORninTHeNextiMeComesDeth.theComMiTE
It was fully five minutes before Carrots succeeded in deciphering theletter 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'sgone 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. Sidsays 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 firstthing 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 themto 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."
"I SAID I KNEW A BOY, AN' I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP.""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.
It seemed absolutely necessary for Carrots to talk at great length aboutthe 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? Nobodyknows 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, ashe 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 nightafter 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 wasstartled 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 hungershould 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. ThenI 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' thensneaked 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?"
"WHY, HE WAS ALL OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER'N YOU COULD WINK!""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 anysupper, 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 wassomemolasses 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 wasthrough 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 alittle 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.
It was necessary to shake the amateur farmer very rudely next morningbefore 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 thefirm, 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 regardingthe 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 CityHall 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 thepleasing 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."
At this instant Sid, Reddy, and another boy came out from their hiding-places, and the transfer of the prisoner was quicklymade.