THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR.THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR.
"By jiminy! If I could earn twenty-five cents as quick as that, itwouldn'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 businessto 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 acheso 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.
Shortly after the boys arrived at City Hall Park, and before thebusiness 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 herepeated 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, whenhe 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 hardwork 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 thatlocality.
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 joyousas 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 whatcan 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 Ithought 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.
It is doubtful if Carrots often had a harder task than that of remainingsilent 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 hairisred!"
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 untilthe 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 unusuallyearly 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 ofpapers! An' don't the pictures show up great? Well, I should say they did! I wish it was alittlegreener; 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! Ican'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 theItalian'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 upto-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 heplaced 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'sideas, 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.
"'HOW DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?' TEDDY ASKED, STERNLY.""'HOW DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?' TEDDY ASKED, STERNLY."
"He's really gone an' done it!" Master Williams exclaimed in a tone ofawe, 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 comehere?" 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 hischance."
"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.
The fireman were able to put out the fire before it had done seriousdamage, 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 hedares 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 previous 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. "Ididcount 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—Idon'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 somedwellings 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 firelast 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 asyou 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.