Citation
Teddy and Carrots

Material Information

Title:
Teddy and Carrots two merchants of Newspaper row
Creator:
Otis, James, 1848-1912
Rogers, W. A ( William Allen ), 1854-1931 ( Illustrator )
Estes & Lauriat ( Publisher )
C.H. Simonds & Co. ( publisher )
Colonial Press (Boston, Mass.) ( printer )
Geo. C. Scott & Sons
Place of Publication:
Boston
Publisher:
Estes and Lauriat
Manufacturer:
Colonial Press ; C.H. Simonds & Co. ; Electrotyped by Geo. C. Scott & Sons
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
225 p : ill. ; 21 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Boys -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Success -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Diligence -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Prisoners -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Friendship -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Physicians -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Newspaper vendors -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Revenge -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Bldn -- 1896
Genre:
novel ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
United States -- Massachusetts -- Boston
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

Statement of Responsibility:
by James Otis ; illustrated by W.A. Rogers.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
002394836 ( ALEPH )
ALZ9743 ( NOTIS )
02220735 ( OCLC )
12034818 ( LCCN )

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Full Text
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TEDDY AND CARROTS













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 Tue CENTURY Co.

Copyright, 1896
By Estes AND LAURIAT

All rights reserved

Colonial ress:
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
Electrotyped by Geo. C. Scott & Sons



CONTENTS.



CHAPTER I.
PAGE

HASEN TE WCOMER 2.60 So ti de Re eee Se OO eet Sore aie on II

CHAPTER II.

SEH E ASSAULT oe eS ices ee tie Mg se eg dele Sab etg eee DT

CHAPTER III.

RHE (ARREST sao ae ete ee aL ee Sg Sa
CHAPTER IV.

HERR SPRISONER 00°00 Sk ee SEMEN i on Ag
CHAPTER V.

HA SUGGESTION i702 oe iian iethers aot pean Seah Gitta, soy acige ies nea BO
CHAPTER VI.

AHR ERTAL Se oes a ee eae Ci nga eg hs Shy

CHAPTER VII.

TRAE WARNINGS: 204 0850 CPR ee BM eg 2S ar eg

CHAPTER VIII.

THE “PARTNERS (coef ea OE Ae ee EE ee ee OB



vi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.’

THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN

CHAPTER X.

SxKip’s VENGEANCE

CHAPTER XI.

A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT

CHAPTER XII.

CaRROTS’S CHARITY .

CHAPTER XIII.

A MEDICAL. FRIEND

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PLoT .

CHAPTER XV.

THE CONFLAGRATION

CHAPTER XVI.

THE CHALLENGE

CHAPTER XVII.

PROSPERITY

PAGE

. 108

135

149

162

176

187

213



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.



PAGE
TEDDY AND CARROTS LEAVE THE “TomMBS” . . . . Frontispiece
“¢Vou’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 OFFI-

CER ASKED 2 ise nee as wu ica: ae vagtien ge eas et, La BS
TEENIE MASSEY’S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS’S RESIDENCE . 53
“¢]T WAS JEST LIKE THIS, SAID CARROTS”. . . .... . 62
TEENIE BRINGS THE “COMMITTEE'S” WARNING . . . . . 89
AN EXACT COPY OF THE “COMMITTEE'S” WARNING . . . . 92
“T sarp I KNEW a BOY, AN’ I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP” . . 105
“WuHy, HE WAS ALL’ OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER’N YOU

COULD) WINK 127 Foo Ge URE eae Ba ies be SS De,
CARROTS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY .... . 127
TEDDY DEFENDS HIS PARTNER . . . . . 1 ewe ee) 143
IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER’S WINDOW. . . . . 1 7 es 155
THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR. .. . ... . - « « + ITI
“«How DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?’ TEDDY ASKED,

STER NEV 22 oie eases ates steleer Sit des auctor Gb tea et oe ale EO
“¢WHAT ARE YOU YELLIN’ LIKE THAT FOR?’ SAID SID” . . 209
“CARROTS DISPLAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF Messrs. THuRS-

TON, AND»? WILLIAMS? 35. S30 S500 ee eS) PS TF

(PROSPERITY 2 scissshe os eects ode ear cah trea ne ane ee eae Do Ee OT







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 curb-
stone, 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, re-
placing 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 consider-
able 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.



12 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Seated on the edge of the iron basin, with a news-
paper 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 wrap-
pings 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

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A NEWCOMER. 13

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 ap-
proached, 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?”

“T thought I did; but these chaps here made sure
there must be some mistake about it.”

The boy gazed critically at those who were surround-
ing him, and then replied:

“Well, ’cordin’ to the looks of the whole crowd, I
should ¢kzxk 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 need n’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



14 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

for him to make too many threatening gestures, be-
cause 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 scruti-
nised the stranger carefully.

“T 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,



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““you’D BETTER MIND YOUR EYE, IF YOU COUNT ON STAYIN’ ROUND THIS CITY VERY LONG!’

SAID SKIP.”






A NEWCOMER. ey)

an’ there ’’s many a time when it ll put him through in
great shape.”

“ 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
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, begin-
ning 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.

“TJ 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.



18 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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
was n’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. /’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 set-
. tled down, it'll be a pretty hard job to make any trade
with me.’

“Where you goin’ to begin business?”

“J 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 fel-



A NEWCOMER. 19

ler,” 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, ’catise 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 busi-
ness 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 excite-
ment 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.” 7



20 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“T 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 hig arm, I ’l]
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.

fs Don’t you mind how I got it over in Brooklyn! Ill
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 Zhe Tzmes
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 earn-
ing 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 _ boot-
blacks 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 him-
self, jingling the coins in his pocket, as if trying to revive
his courage :

“Tf 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 are n'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

21



22 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”

“T 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 could n’t
have got ’em less ’n a dollar down on Fulton Street.”

“ That settles me,” Teddy said, as if speaking to him-
self; and then, without particular animation, he inquired,
“What’s the cost of the boxes?” d

“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’?”

eBhe

“JT 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-



THE ASSAULT. 23

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?”

“T worked for Farmer Taylor a spell, but he would n’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.”

“T 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
its,

“ Well, I s’pose he had; but you see there’s a good
many times when business is dull ’round here, an’ if you
have n’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.



24 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

«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.

“J 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.”

“1 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’



THE ASSAULT. 25

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? 0

“Well, seems as if you was puttin’ on a good deal of
style for a feller that has n’t got money enough to buy
the outfit for the bootblack trade.”

“JT 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,



26 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”
-“T'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



THE ASSAULT. 27

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



28 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 con-
cerning 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 de-
lighted 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



THE ASSAULT. 29

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!”

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 ascer-
tain the cause, Skip
turned and immediately







TEDDY IS ARRESTED, WHILE HIS ENEMIES ESCAPE.

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



30 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

was laid upon his shoulder, and he found himself in the
clutches of one of the park guards.

“T’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 approach-
ing 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, de-
spite 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

31



32 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 coun-
try,” 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.”

“JT don’t know what you can do,’ Teddy replied,
mournfully, speaking in an ordinary tone. Then, glanc-
ing 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?”

“Ts this boy a friend of yours?”

“Bet your life he is, offcer!” Carrots replied, ear-
nestly. “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?”





“¢NOWw, THEN, WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOUNG CHAP?’ THE OFFICER

ASKED.”







THE ARREST. 35

“Tf 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 busi-
ness, would it?”



36 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“It’s nothing to me, so long as you don’t help him
escape.”

“You needn’t be ‘raid. 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.”

“Tt’s no use to try it,” "Teddy replied, mournfully.
“T 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’raps I haven’t lived in this city



THE ARREST. 34

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 whis-
pered.

“Not more’n ten cents. You see, I had jest begun
to sell papers when they nabbed me. How much do
you want?”

“T’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.

“] 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 haye 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.



38 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“T’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.”

“T 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’ itll be ’cause my blackin’ has run
out!” Carrots cried, enthusiastically; and then, wheel-
ing suddenly, he ran at full speed in the opposite
direction.

“Tt 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 any-
thing 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



THE ARREST. 39

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 busi-
ness?”

“Say, Teenie, was you ‘round here when Skip Jelli-
son 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.”

“T 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



40 TEDDY AND. CARROTS.

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!”

“T know that. He zs 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 when-
ever 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:

“TI don’t know whether I ’ll have ee 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:



THE ARREST. AI

“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, look-
ing 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 ave 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 ?”

“Did n’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 bran-
dished 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.”

“T won’t scrap ’cause I don’t want, to git jailed; bu
you can’t frighten me, no matter how bad you jump
round.”

“Look out for yourself, that’s all I’m_ sayin’,”



* 42 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 Il make you sorry for it!”

“It’s very polite o’ you to give me a friendly warn-
in’,” 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.

A.tHoucH Carrots had pretended that Skip’s threats
neither frightened nor disturbed him, he was _thor-
oughly 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 en-
counter 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

43



44 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 ex-
plained 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 was n'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 Jack-
son, who asked, as he approached and halted in front
of Carrots:

“Seen Skip lately?”

“He jest went away. Been’ round, kinder reg’latin’



THE PRISONER. A5

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 busi-
ness; 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 his-
self, 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. busi-
ness 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?”



46 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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.”

“TI 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
would n’t get into a fuss Sith Skip; but if this is the
way you ’re goin’ on, why, let her flicker, for all I care.’

“T’m itch obliged to you for bein’ so willin’; an’
when I want another favor Ill call ‘round a 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 would n'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 sym-
pathies 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 be-
fore he got into trouble.”

Not until nearly nightfall was the well - disposed



THE PRISONER. 47

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, Car-
rots?”

“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 have n’t been any further than the gallery
yet; but that’s all right. You don’t want ter put ina
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 spose 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.



48 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 ex-
pected 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.”

“J don’t want my boots shined now. See you out-
side 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
have n’t any authority to do a thing like that.”

“Could n’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 ex-
plain how it happened, unless he is really guilty, in



THE PRISONER. 49

which case I suppose he will have to go to the Island.
I fancy a week up there would n’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 would n’t do any good.”

‘Carrots looked up as if surprised that an old friend
should assume a dictatorial tone, and then, suddenly re-
membering 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. Youll 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.”



50 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 anda 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 Id 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 “— 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



THE PRISONER. 51

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 pur-
pose 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 care-
lessly around wherever they might have chanced to fall
when taken from the shop by the employés. To Car-



52 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 run-
ning 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 squate; 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 house-
hold treasures.

A bottle which served as a candlestick, a cigar-box
as pantry in case he chanced to lay in a stock of provi-
sions, 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.

On arriving at his home, Carrots lighted*the candle
in order to render the apartment more cheerful; and



TEENIE MASSEY’S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS’S RESIDENCE.









THE PRISONER. 55

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, how-
ever, a shrill whistle was heard from the alleyway, and
Carrots muttered to himself as he crawled through the
passage out from among the boxes:

“TI 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?”

“T?’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, would n’t you?”

“Well, I didn’t mean it jest that way,” Teenie re-
plied; “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 up-
set things.”

“What are you doin’?”

“You see, I took the job of gettin’ that feller from

56



A SUGGESTION. 57

Saranac out er the station-house; an’ it’s goin’ to bea
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.”

“Tll 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.”

“T don’t b’lieve we ll get the chance. They would n’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



58 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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
could n’t?”

“It would n'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.” Poe
“T’d ’gree to black him all over, if he’d do what I
want. Where does he hang out?” —

“T ll show you in the mornin’. Been to supper?”

“Yes; had a little spread up to’ Delmonico’s. It
was n’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.”



A SUGGESTION. 59

“S’pose we put it away for a while? It has n’t been
so long since I ate that lot 0’ 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 spend-
thrift, invited his friend to a breakfast at Mose Pear-
son’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.



60 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 capital-
ists, 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 Jel-
lison 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 ex-
claimed, in a tone of reproach.

“Oh, yes, he does; but you see it’s kind er dark in
here, an’ I s’pose he could n’t see my face very well, or
he did n’t notice.”

“What are you goin’ to do ’bout it?”



A SUGGESTION. 61

“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 confi-
dent 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, impa-
tiently.

“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.”

“T might defend him, but I could n’t agree to get him
out. That depends on the judge.”



62 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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.”

























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“¢rp 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.”

“Tt was jest like this: You see, Skip he come up an’
hit Teddy in the jaw, and Teddy tried to hit back.



A SUGGESTION. 63

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 /’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 thinkse 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?”

Rhee”

“I mean why did the officer take him?”

“Why? ’Cause the park policeman said he was



64 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”

“] shine boots; an’ if youll 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.”



A SUGGESTION. 65

“T 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 was n’t
doin’ anything, an’ knocked your papers in the mud.”

“It wouldn’t be very pleasant, I Il admit; but how
can you prove that such was the case? Who saw the
beginning of the trouble?”

“T did, an’ Teenie, an’ lots of other fellers; but they
would n’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?”



66 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Yes, I suppose it is,” the lawyer replied, laughingly.
“TI 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?”

“T 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.

“Tt 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 acci-
dentally meet Skip.



CHAPTER VIL.
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 unfor-
tunate-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.”

“Tt 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,

67



68 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 pris-
oners.”

“You won’t forget that you promised to try an’ fix it?”

“T said I would see that the officer wasn’t hard on
him. I can’t 7x anything. Have you got your wit-
nesses 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 rounds-
man told me the fighting did n’t amount to much.”

“There wasn't azy 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 have n’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



THE TRIAL. 69

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 him-
self 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’
would n’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, spin-
ning him around until he was heading in the direction
from which he had come.



70 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Tf you make any attempt to speak to that boy, I’ ll
put you in with him! What are you doing here, any-
how? 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 hap-
pened. 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 head-
long but for the fact that Teenie chanced to be in the
way, and thus prevented the fall.

“T 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 confi-
dential 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



THE TRIAL. 71

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, pres-
ently; but just now I don’t care to hear it, and have n’t
the time. Sit down until your name is called.”

“T’m afraid that lawyer don’t ‘mount to much,” Car-
rots 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, accompa-
nied 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 per-
fectly 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.

“T don’t know whether I have or not.”



72 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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’ well 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 wit-
ness — 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, does n’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.



THE TRIAL. 73

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 particu-
larly 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, “ Car-
rots;” 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, Car-
rots leaned toward the magistrate in a confidential and
friendly manner, as he began:



74. TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ 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 ah 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 any-
thing 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 did n’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



THE TRIAL. 75
°

would have come in with a left-hander, if Teddy had n'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 busi-
ness 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.”

“Ts 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 did n’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.”

“Tf your honor will alee 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.



76 TEDDY AND CARROTS.
e

“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 wit-
ness 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,
would n’t you fight? I guess you would!”

“JT will do the questioning, and you can confine your-
self 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-



THE TRIAL. a.

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?” Car-
rots 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 ’gree-
ment 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 fol-
lowed 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,” Car-
rots suggested.



78 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.”

“T 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 per-
plexity; and straightway the three were plunged
into a maze of bewilderment that the law should
interfere by arresting a fellow when he attempted



THE TRIAL. 79

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 eae 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.

“T reckon I would n’t get off as easy if I was hauled
up before that judge ag’in,” Teddy said to his compan-
ion when the two had taken leave of Teenie Massey,
and were walking in the direction of the water-front.

80



THE WARNING. 81

“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, have n’t you?”

“Ves,”

“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’ buyit. 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.”

“T 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’



82 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 local-
ity, 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.”

“T don’t want to be paid back,” Carrots replied, de-
cidedly. “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 is n’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.”



THE WARNING. 83

“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.

“Ves, I did; every one. You see, 1 wiped the mud
off, an’ then folded em’ inside, so’s it would n’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, have n’t earned
acent. 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.”

“T won’t do anything of the kind,” Carrots replied, in
atone 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.”



84 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 unset-
tled, 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.

“T don’t want any, Carrots. I never smoke.”

“What?”

“JT 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



THE WARNING. 85

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.”

“Theré's only one thing "bout it. We must ’tend to
work the same’s if he was n’t livin’.”

“ But he'll jump down on us, an’ then we ’ll get into
another fight.”

“T spose 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 @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?”



86, TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ He has ter hustle, an’ take it rough, same’s youre
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
ot 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 some-
where, if you want ter swell, an’ that’s dreadful expen-
sive. 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?”

“T ain’t got any, an’ never had; but the place where
I stop is mighty swell, I can tell you, though we can’t



THE WARNING. 87

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 break-
fast, 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 busi-
ness 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.”



88 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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! Ido 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 pro-
longed 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?”



TEENIE BRINGS THE “COMMITTEE’S”? WARNING.








THE WARNING. gI

“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.”

“Tf 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 could n’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,



92 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Carrots, ‘cause he hung right on, an’ jest as likely ’s not
he ’d have given me a thumpin’ if I had n'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,
pened: 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 pre-
served by Teddy; therefore we are enabled to give an
exact copy of it:

Pe
a a)

this | the ant
“WORT WA eh







CHAPTER VIII.
THE PARTNERS,

Ir 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; e’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

93



94 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.



THE PARTNERS. 95

So he was glad when Carrots said:

“J 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’.”

“T wouldn’t say a word ’bout that, Carrots, an’ you
know it.”

“| b’lieve you, Teenie, I b’lieve you; but you under-
stand 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.”

“T’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 see-
in’ him.”

Then Teenie took his departure, and the victims of
Master Skip’s wrath were left alone to discuss the situa-
tion, which was certainly beginning to look serious for
them.



Full Text
a,





CFT


TEDDY AND CARROTS




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 Tue CENTURY Co.

Copyright, 1896
By Estes AND LAURIAT

All rights reserved

Colonial ress:
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
Electrotyped by Geo. C. Scott & Sons
CONTENTS.



CHAPTER I.
PAGE

HASEN TE WCOMER 2.60 So ti de Re eee Se OO eet Sore aie on II

CHAPTER II.

SEH E ASSAULT oe eS ices ee tie Mg se eg dele Sab etg eee DT

CHAPTER III.

RHE (ARREST sao ae ete ee aL ee Sg Sa
CHAPTER IV.

HERR SPRISONER 00°00 Sk ee SEMEN i on Ag
CHAPTER V.

HA SUGGESTION i702 oe iian iethers aot pean Seah Gitta, soy acige ies nea BO
CHAPTER VI.

AHR ERTAL Se oes a ee eae Ci nga eg hs Shy

CHAPTER VII.

TRAE WARNINGS: 204 0850 CPR ee BM eg 2S ar eg

CHAPTER VIII.

THE “PARTNERS (coef ea OE Ae ee EE ee ee OB
vi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.’

THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN

CHAPTER X.

SxKip’s VENGEANCE

CHAPTER XI.

A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT

CHAPTER XII.

CaRROTS’S CHARITY .

CHAPTER XIII.

A MEDICAL. FRIEND

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PLoT .

CHAPTER XV.

THE CONFLAGRATION

CHAPTER XVI.

THE CHALLENGE

CHAPTER XVII.

PROSPERITY

PAGE

. 108

135

149

162

176

187

213
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.



PAGE
TEDDY AND CARROTS LEAVE THE “TomMBS” . . . . Frontispiece
“¢Vou’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 OFFI-

CER ASKED 2 ise nee as wu ica: ae vagtien ge eas et, La BS
TEENIE MASSEY’S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS’S RESIDENCE . 53
“¢]T WAS JEST LIKE THIS, SAID CARROTS”. . . .... . 62
TEENIE BRINGS THE “COMMITTEE'S” WARNING . . . . . 89
AN EXACT COPY OF THE “COMMITTEE'S” WARNING . . . . 92
“T sarp I KNEW a BOY, AN’ I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP” . . 105
“WuHy, HE WAS ALL’ OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER’N YOU

COULD) WINK 127 Foo Ge URE eae Ba ies be SS De,
CARROTS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY .... . 127
TEDDY DEFENDS HIS PARTNER . . . . . 1 ewe ee) 143
IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER’S WINDOW. . . . . 1 7 es 155
THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR. .. . ... . - « « + ITI
“«How DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?’ TEDDY ASKED,

STER NEV 22 oie eases ates steleer Sit des auctor Gb tea et oe ale EO
“¢WHAT ARE YOU YELLIN’ LIKE THAT FOR?’ SAID SID” . . 209
“CARROTS DISPLAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF Messrs. THuRS-

TON, AND»? WILLIAMS? 35. S30 S500 ee eS) PS TF

(PROSPERITY 2 scissshe os eects ode ear cah trea ne ane ee eae Do Ee OT

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 curb-
stone, 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, re-
placing 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 consider-
able 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.
12 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Seated on the edge of the iron basin, with a news-
paper 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 wrap-
pings 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

(2?
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4
iy
ul
5
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A NEWCOMER. 13

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 ap-
proached, 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?”

“T thought I did; but these chaps here made sure
there must be some mistake about it.”

The boy gazed critically at those who were surround-
ing him, and then replied:

“Well, ’cordin’ to the looks of the whole crowd, I
should ¢kzxk 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 need n’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
14 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

for him to make too many threatening gestures, be-
cause 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 scruti-
nised the stranger carefully.

“T 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,
vt

ea

ADS

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ee

; Za (1 i

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ss





















































““you’D BETTER MIND YOUR EYE, IF YOU COUNT ON STAYIN’ ROUND THIS CITY VERY LONG!’

SAID SKIP.”
A NEWCOMER. ey)

an’ there ’’s many a time when it ll put him through in
great shape.”

“ 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
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, begin-
ning 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.

“TJ 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.
18 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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
was n’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. /’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 set-
. tled down, it'll be a pretty hard job to make any trade
with me.’

“Where you goin’ to begin business?”

“J 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 fel-
A NEWCOMER. 19

ler,” 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, ’catise 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 busi-
ness 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 excite-
ment 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.” 7
20 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“T 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 hig arm, I ’l]
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.

fs Don’t you mind how I got it over in Brooklyn! Ill
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 Zhe Tzmes
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 earn-
ing 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 _ boot-
blacks 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 him-
self, jingling the coins in his pocket, as if trying to revive
his courage :

“Tf 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 are n'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

21
22 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”

“T 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 could n’t
have got ’em less ’n a dollar down on Fulton Street.”

“ That settles me,” Teddy said, as if speaking to him-
self; and then, without particular animation, he inquired,
“What’s the cost of the boxes?” d

“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’?”

eBhe

“JT 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-
THE ASSAULT. 23

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?”

“T worked for Farmer Taylor a spell, but he would n’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.”

“T 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
its,

“ Well, I s’pose he had; but you see there’s a good
many times when business is dull ’round here, an’ if you
have n’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.
24 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

«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.

“J 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.”

“1 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’
THE ASSAULT. 25

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? 0

“Well, seems as if you was puttin’ on a good deal of
style for a feller that has n’t got money enough to buy
the outfit for the bootblack trade.”

“JT 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,
26 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”
-“T'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
THE ASSAULT. 27

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
28 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 con-
cerning 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 de-
lighted 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
THE ASSAULT. 29

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!”

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 ascer-
tain the cause, Skip
turned and immediately







TEDDY IS ARRESTED, WHILE HIS ENEMIES ESCAPE.

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
30 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

was laid upon his shoulder, and he found himself in the
clutches of one of the park guards.

“T’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 approach-
ing 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, de-
spite 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

31
32 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 coun-
try,” 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.”

“JT don’t know what you can do,’ Teddy replied,
mournfully, speaking in an ordinary tone. Then, glanc-
ing 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?”

“Ts this boy a friend of yours?”

“Bet your life he is, offcer!” Carrots replied, ear-
nestly. “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?”


“¢NOWw, THEN, WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOUNG CHAP?’ THE OFFICER

ASKED.”

THE ARREST. 35

“Tf 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 busi-
ness, would it?”
36 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“It’s nothing to me, so long as you don’t help him
escape.”

“You needn’t be ‘raid. 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.”

“Tt’s no use to try it,” "Teddy replied, mournfully.
“T 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’raps I haven’t lived in this city
THE ARREST. 34

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 whis-
pered.

“Not more’n ten cents. You see, I had jest begun
to sell papers when they nabbed me. How much do
you want?”

“T’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.

“] 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 haye 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.
38 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“T’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.”

“T 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’ itll be ’cause my blackin’ has run
out!” Carrots cried, enthusiastically; and then, wheel-
ing suddenly, he ran at full speed in the opposite
direction.

“Tt 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 any-
thing 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
THE ARREST. 39

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 busi-
ness?”

“Say, Teenie, was you ‘round here when Skip Jelli-
son 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.”

“T 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
40 TEDDY AND. CARROTS.

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!”

“T know that. He zs 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 when-
ever 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:

“TI don’t know whether I ’ll have ee 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:
THE ARREST. AI

“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, look-
ing 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 ave 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 ?”

“Did n’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 bran-
dished 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.”

“T won’t scrap ’cause I don’t want, to git jailed; bu
you can’t frighten me, no matter how bad you jump
round.”

“Look out for yourself, that’s all I’m_ sayin’,”
* 42 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 Il make you sorry for it!”

“It’s very polite o’ you to give me a friendly warn-
in’,” 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.

A.tHoucH Carrots had pretended that Skip’s threats
neither frightened nor disturbed him, he was _thor-
oughly 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 en-
counter 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

43
44 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 ex-
plained 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 was n'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 Jack-
son, who asked, as he approached and halted in front
of Carrots:

“Seen Skip lately?”

“He jest went away. Been’ round, kinder reg’latin’
THE PRISONER. A5

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 busi-
ness; 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 his-
self, 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. busi-
ness 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?”
46 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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.”

“TI 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
would n’t get into a fuss Sith Skip; but if this is the
way you ’re goin’ on, why, let her flicker, for all I care.’

“T’m itch obliged to you for bein’ so willin’; an’
when I want another favor Ill call ‘round a 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 would n'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 sym-
pathies 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 be-
fore he got into trouble.”

Not until nearly nightfall was the well - disposed
THE PRISONER. 47

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, Car-
rots?”

“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 have n’t been any further than the gallery
yet; but that’s all right. You don’t want ter put ina
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 spose 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.
48 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 ex-
pected 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.”

“J don’t want my boots shined now. See you out-
side 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
have n’t any authority to do a thing like that.”

“Could n’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 ex-
plain how it happened, unless he is really guilty, in
THE PRISONER. 49

which case I suppose he will have to go to the Island.
I fancy a week up there would n’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 would n’t do any good.”

‘Carrots looked up as if surprised that an old friend
should assume a dictatorial tone, and then, suddenly re-
membering 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. Youll 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.”
50 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 anda 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 Id 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 “— 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
THE PRISONER. 51

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 pur-
pose 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 care-
lessly around wherever they might have chanced to fall
when taken from the shop by the employés. To Car-
52 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 run-
ning 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 squate; 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 house-
hold treasures.

A bottle which served as a candlestick, a cigar-box
as pantry in case he chanced to lay in a stock of provi-
sions, 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.

On arriving at his home, Carrots lighted*the candle
in order to render the apartment more cheerful; and
TEENIE MASSEY’S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS’S RESIDENCE.



THE PRISONER. 55

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, how-
ever, a shrill whistle was heard from the alleyway, and
Carrots muttered to himself as he crawled through the
passage out from among the boxes:

“TI 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?”

“T?’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, would n’t you?”

“Well, I didn’t mean it jest that way,” Teenie re-
plied; “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 up-
set things.”

“What are you doin’?”

“You see, I took the job of gettin’ that feller from

56
A SUGGESTION. 57

Saranac out er the station-house; an’ it’s goin’ to bea
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.”

“Tll 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.”

“T don’t b’lieve we ll get the chance. They would n’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
58 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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
could n’t?”

“It would n'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.” Poe
“T’d ’gree to black him all over, if he’d do what I
want. Where does he hang out?” —

“T ll show you in the mornin’. Been to supper?”

“Yes; had a little spread up to’ Delmonico’s. It
was n’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.”
A SUGGESTION. 59

“S’pose we put it away for a while? It has n’t been
so long since I ate that lot 0’ 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 spend-
thrift, invited his friend to a breakfast at Mose Pear-
son’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.
60 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 capital-
ists, 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 Jel-
lison 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 ex-
claimed, in a tone of reproach.

“Oh, yes, he does; but you see it’s kind er dark in
here, an’ I s’pose he could n’t see my face very well, or
he did n’t notice.”

“What are you goin’ to do ’bout it?”
A SUGGESTION. 61

“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 confi-
dent 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, impa-
tiently.

“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.”

“T might defend him, but I could n’t agree to get him
out. That depends on the judge.”
62 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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.”

























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“¢rp 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.”

“Tt was jest like this: You see, Skip he come up an’
hit Teddy in the jaw, and Teddy tried to hit back.
A SUGGESTION. 63

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 /’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 thinkse 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?”

Rhee”

“I mean why did the officer take him?”

“Why? ’Cause the park policeman said he was
64 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?”

“] shine boots; an’ if youll 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.”
A SUGGESTION. 65

“T 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 was n’t
doin’ anything, an’ knocked your papers in the mud.”

“It wouldn’t be very pleasant, I Il admit; but how
can you prove that such was the case? Who saw the
beginning of the trouble?”

“T did, an’ Teenie, an’ lots of other fellers; but they
would n’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?”
66 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Yes, I suppose it is,” the lawyer replied, laughingly.
“TI 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?”

“T 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.

“Tt 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 acci-
dentally meet Skip.
CHAPTER VIL.
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 unfor-
tunate-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.”

“Tt 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,

67
68 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 pris-
oners.”

“You won’t forget that you promised to try an’ fix it?”

“T said I would see that the officer wasn’t hard on
him. I can’t 7x anything. Have you got your wit-
nesses 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 rounds-
man told me the fighting did n’t amount to much.”

“There wasn't azy 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 have n’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
THE TRIAL. 69

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 him-
self 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’
would n’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, spin-
ning him around until he was heading in the direction
from which he had come.
70 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Tf you make any attempt to speak to that boy, I’ ll
put you in with him! What are you doing here, any-
how? 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 hap-
pened. 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 head-
long but for the fact that Teenie chanced to be in the
way, and thus prevented the fall.

“T 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 confi-
dential 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
THE TRIAL. 71

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, pres-
ently; but just now I don’t care to hear it, and have n’t
the time. Sit down until your name is called.”

“T’m afraid that lawyer don’t ‘mount to much,” Car-
rots 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, accompa-
nied 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 per-
fectly 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.

“T don’t know whether I have or not.”
72 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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’ well 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 wit-
ness — 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, does n’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.
THE TRIAL. 73

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 particu-
larly 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, “ Car-
rots;” 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, Car-
rots leaned toward the magistrate in a confidential and
friendly manner, as he began:
74. TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ 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 ah 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 any-
thing 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 did n’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
THE TRIAL. 75
°

would have come in with a left-hander, if Teddy had n'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 busi-
ness 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.”

“Ts 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 did n’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.”

“Tf your honor will alee 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.
76 TEDDY AND CARROTS.
e

“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 wit-
ness 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,
would n’t you fight? I guess you would!”

“JT will do the questioning, and you can confine your-
self 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-
THE TRIAL. a.

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?” Car-
rots 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 ’gree-
ment 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 fol-
lowed 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,” Car-
rots suggested.
78 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.”

“T 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 per-
plexity; and straightway the three were plunged
into a maze of bewilderment that the law should
interfere by arresting a fellow when he attempted
THE TRIAL. 79

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 eae 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.

“T reckon I would n’t get off as easy if I was hauled
up before that judge ag’in,” Teddy said to his compan-
ion when the two had taken leave of Teenie Massey,
and were walking in the direction of the water-front.

80
THE WARNING. 81

“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, have n’t you?”

“Ves,”

“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’ buyit. 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.”

“T 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’
82 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 local-
ity, 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.”

“T don’t want to be paid back,” Carrots replied, de-
cidedly. “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 is n’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.”
THE WARNING. 83

“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.

“Ves, I did; every one. You see, 1 wiped the mud
off, an’ then folded em’ inside, so’s it would n’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, have n’t earned
acent. 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.”

“T won’t do anything of the kind,” Carrots replied, in
atone 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.”
84 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 unset-
tled, 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.

“T don’t want any, Carrots. I never smoke.”

“What?”

“JT 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
THE WARNING. 85

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.”

“Theré's only one thing "bout it. We must ’tend to
work the same’s if he was n’t livin’.”

“ But he'll jump down on us, an’ then we ’ll get into
another fight.”

“T spose 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 @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?”
86, TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ He has ter hustle, an’ take it rough, same’s youre
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
ot 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 some-
where, if you want ter swell, an’ that’s dreadful expen-
sive. 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?”

“T ain’t got any, an’ never had; but the place where
I stop is mighty swell, I can tell you, though we can’t
THE WARNING. 87

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 break-
fast, 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 busi-
ness 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.”
88 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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! Ido 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 pro-
longed 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?”
TEENIE BRINGS THE “COMMITTEE’S”? WARNING.


THE WARNING. gI

“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.”

“Tf 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 could n’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,
92 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Carrots, ‘cause he hung right on, an’ jest as likely ’s not
he ’d have given me a thumpin’ if I had n'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,
pened: 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 pre-
served by Teddy; therefore we are enabled to give an
exact copy of it:

Pe
a a)

this | the ant
“WORT WA eh




CHAPTER VIII.
THE PARTNERS,

Ir 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; e’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

93
94 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.
THE PARTNERS. 95

So he was glad when Carrots said:

“J 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’.”

“T wouldn’t say a word ’bout that, Carrots, an’ you
know it.”

“| b’lieve you, Teenie, I b’lieve you; but you under-
stand 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.”

“T’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 see-
in’ him.”

Then Teenie took his departure, and the victims of
Master Skip’s wrath were left alone to discuss the situa-
tion, which was certainly beginning to look serious for
them.
96 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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 was n’t likely he ’d stop after what little he’s done.
Now, Carrots, there’s jest this much about it: you
would n’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
would n’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.”

“T 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 would n’t it be a good idea to go
inter pardnership? I can earn as much money in pleas-
ant 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.”

“Tt ought ter be ‘ Thurston an’ Williams,’ of course.
Pardners don’t use their first names.”

“Now you’ve struck it?” Carrots cried in delight.
“Ts it a whack?
THE PARTNERS. 97

“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 must n’t put in all your money, Carrots.
You see, I have n’t got as much, an’ that would n’t be
fair.”

Then Teddy counted his wealth, which consisted, in-
cluding 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 some-
thin’ to eat to-morrow. What do you say to tryin’ it
‘round South Ferry?”

“Tf we do that, Skip will be sure he has. driven
us out. I think we’d better go right. up. to- City
98 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Hall, an’ start in straight; but the first thing is,
where ll we live?”

“What ’s the matter with this place?”

“T 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’ til 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 reglar 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 would n’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.”
THE PARTNERS. 99

“Ten dollars!” Carrots exclaimed. “Why don’t
you buy the City Hall an’ start in in great shape?
Ten dollars! Why, we could n’t earn that much in
a month!”

“Well, s’posin’ we could n’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 after-
noon sellin’ papers, s’posin’ you put in the whole day
at it, could n’t you have made more’n fifty cents?”

“T could do better’n that blackin’ boots, even
when business was n’t good.”

“Well, there you are! If you earn fifty cents, an’
enough to buy grub, an’ I do the same, it would n’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 does n’t
care whether my face is white or red, so long’s he
gets a polish,”
I0O TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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 sus-
picious sort of manner, as if questioning whether
it would be exactly safe for him to make the experi-
ment suggested. .

“T ll do it! By jinks! Ill 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 did n’t wash far enough back.”

“What’s the matter now?” Carrots asked in sur-
prise.

“Tt 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, did n’t I?”

“Ves,”
THE PARTNERS. IOI

“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 itll 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 would n’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 would n’t wish that very long if you had one
taste of it.”

“T 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 pineede: as if his whole
nature had been changed by the washing of his
face.

At last he blew out the candle, snuffed the glow-
ing 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
102 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 partic-
ularly, 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 scorch 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.
THE PARTNERS. 103

Master Carrots was at home, and, as could be told
from his face, labouring under the most intense excite-
ment.

-“T’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.

“T’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 would n’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 was n’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
had n’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
104 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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. Il 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.” .

“T 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.”


”

“T SAID I KNEW A BOY, AN’ I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP.
THE PARTNERS. 107

“Oh, you ll be up ’round City Hall by that time.”

“Tt ll take me longer ’n a week to get things straight-
ened 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.

Ir 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.

“T don’t want to take it,’ Carrots objected, mourn-
fully. “When I’m away I’d rather think some of my
money was here, an’, p’rhaps, when I come back on

108
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. 109

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 pecu-
niary 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?” ;

“T 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.”

“T’ll risk that part of it. Now, is there anything else
I can do for you?”

“No; I bllieve that’s all. Of course you’ll keep the
110 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

house? Nobody knows of it but Teenie, an’ p'rhaps he
won't tell.”

“JT must take the chances of that; but I reckon Skip
Jellison 's goin’ to make it mighty hot forme. 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 sepa-
rated 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:

“T 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
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. II]

toward an old wagon drawn by two mules, as he ex-
claimed: “ 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, warn-
ingly.

“Td 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. Youll 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
II2 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.

“T 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 sat-
ished 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 won-
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. I13

dered at that he was startled beyond the power of
speech when he heard the familiar voice of Carrots
in a cautious tone:

“It’s onlyme! 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 would n’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
114 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

from asking any questions until his hunger should
be appeased.

“Well,” Carrots said, after an enormous meal, “ what
do you think of me now?” “

“T’d say you’ was hungry, an’ I guess that comes
pretty nigh bein’ the truth.”

“That’s a fact; an’ I should n’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 was n’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,
Ill tell you what—I wanted to feed myself, but did n’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
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. 115

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 big-
ger ’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’!”
116 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ 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 agin? 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’
did n’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.”

“Vou 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
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. 117

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?”
“That old skinflint said I had n’t any business run-





“WHy, HE WAS ALL OVER THAT PASTURE QUICKER’N YOU
COULD WINK!”

nin’ 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
118 . TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.”

“Did n’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!
was n’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 could n’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
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN. 119

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 did n’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 would n’t have more’n one hand left,
an’ not the whole of that.”

“T 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?”

“IT reckon it is for you, Carrots; so turn in, an’ I'll
120 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

keep awake a little longer. See you in the mornin’, old

man.
“So long,” Carrots replied, sleepily; and almost be-

fore the words had been uttered his eyes were closed in

slumber.
CHAPTER X.
SKIP’S VENGEANCE.

Ir 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 surround-
ings, 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 Aeted
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.
“TI 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

’

121
122 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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
would n’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?”

“Tt doesn’t make any more difference now than it
did when I was locked up in the station-house. I
did n’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?”

“T 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’? ”

“T guess you’d better, ‘cause I might n’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.”

“T ll be there, sure.”
SKIP’S VENGEANCE. 123

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?”
124 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“ See Carrots, an’ tell him to keep away.”

“T 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’ J 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:

“Tt’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 acquaint-
ance 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.
SKIP’S VENGEANCE. 125

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
fad 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.”

“Tl 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.”
126 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 boot-
black’s outfit.

The messenger went rapidly toward the point desig-
nated, 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?” Car-
rots asked, frightened, and at the same time determined
that the enemy should not see any signs of fear on his
ahace: ,

“Jt 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


CARROTS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.
_ SKEIP’S VENGEANCE. 129

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!” Car-
rots cried as his enemy seized the dollar which Teddy
had given him.

“ Then, if it ain’t yours, I reckon it’s mine.’

“J '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.

“T 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 cap-
130 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

tured, 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?”

“Ves, 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 Car-
rots 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
SKIP’S VENGEANCE. 131

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.”

“J 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:

“Tt 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.”

“T'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, under-
standing that it would be useless to argue further with
132 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 pro-
spective 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 pro-
ceeded 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 our-
selves.”

“He’s worse ’n a villain—he’s a heathen!” Carrots
yelled. |

“Well, call it a heathen then. Well square up with
SKIP’S VENGEANCE. 3 133

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.”

“T 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.”

“T did n’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 ’Il 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 meas-
ured 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.”
134 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 ambi-
tions; 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. There-
fore, 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.

Treppy 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 apart-
ment by an extra illumination.

“Anything wrong!” Carrots repeated. “I should
think when a feller could n’t go ’round ‘bout his busi-
ness 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,

135
136 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

the better itll befor 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?” Car-
rots 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 youve 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 ?”

“T’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
A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. 137

there we must n’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 would n’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 pro-
posed 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 com-
panion had given words to the thoughts, and, without
losing his temper in the slightest degree, he asked:
“Tf 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’
138 TEDDY AND CARROTS.”

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 imme-
diately 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 pen-
nies 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.

“T 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
A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. 139

his scheme for getting even was hardly as wise as
he had supposed it.

Teddy deposited the cash ee 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.

“Tt’s no use to go up there so soon,” Carrots re-
plied. “Wed 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:

“Tf 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!”

“T’ve seen the time since I struck this town that I
could n’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 well
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 sugeesion: but the latter remained
silent.
I40 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.

“T’ve been thinkin’ p’rhaps it would be better if we
did n’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 any- .
thing.”

“ 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.”

“T 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 ven-
A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. IAI

geance, 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 neigh-
bouring clocks proclaimed the hour of eight.

When the sun rose once more, and the two mer-
chants 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.”
142 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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 busi-
ness 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.

“T 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.

“Tf 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




‘TEDDY DEFENDS HIS PARTNER.
A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. 145

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 bewilder-
ment 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 con-
versation before the bully had time to regain his
courage, he continued:

“T 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
146 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 when-
ever 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 e says; but I’ve got something to say
‘bout it. I can’t thump him, ’cause youll ’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
A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. 147

through; but your best way would be to enter a com-
plaint against him on the charge of stealing money.”

“ That’s what I would n’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 Sar-
anac 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.

“Tt’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
148 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 acquaint-
ances 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.

Durine 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 convers-
ing with the policeman.

The other merchants in the newspaper and the boot-
blacking 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 be-
tween 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.

“Tf 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
thé stand before night,” he said, as Teddy returned from
purchasing his fourth supply of papers.

149
150 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“That shows how much a feller can lose unless he
keeps his eyes open,” Teddy replied.

“ That’s a fact,” said Carrots. “It did n’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 does n’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 establish-
ment; 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 accom-
plished by industry. In his mind’s eye he saw the
CARROTS’S CHARITY. I51

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 pack-
ing-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
152 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 esti-
mated 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 acrumb. Will you go and get the supper, or
shall I?”

“T 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.

“T 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 .
CARROTS’S CHARITY. 153

as he was about to climb the fence, the sound of hur-
ried 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 has n’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’ any-
where. Say, Teddy, he ain’t had a thing to eat to-day.”
154 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Why didn’t you give him some of that ‘leven
cents?”

“That ’s what I wanted to do; but I was ’fraid you
would n’t like it.”

“You ought to know better ’n that.. I’ve been hun-
gry myself too many times since I left Saranac, not to
understand how a feller feels.”

“Tl 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 would n’t be any bother if Ikey
stayed here with us till he gets better. An’ jest as
soon’s he’s well hell be willin’ to pay us back what
it ll cost for his grub. He is n’t much of an eater, any-
way. Icould 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.”

“Tt’s as much yours as mine, since we went inter
partnership.”

“Tt 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 backbone right out of it.”

“Shall I go with you?” Teddy asked.

“No; I can get him up here alone if youll stand by




IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER’S WINDOW.

CARROTS'S CHARITY. 157

the gate so’s to catch him when I hist 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 run-
ning 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.

“Ves; let him come!”

“T 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
158 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

as one fancies would be proper for some bloodthirsty
revolutionist. But, although he looked so thoroughly
ferocious, Ikey was by no means a dangerous charac-
ter. 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 candle-
sticks. 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 zs 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.
CARROTS’S CHARITY. 159

His sympathies ‘were thoroughly roused, and he
determined Ikey should have, as he afterward ex-
plained, “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 purchas-
ing 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.”

“Tf 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 ?”

“TI reckon it would n’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 could n’t
160 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

‘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! Ill 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 unusu-
ally 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, with-
out arousing either of his companions, he attended
to this important business.

After a short absence he returned with a clean to-
mato-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
CARROTS’S CHARITY. 161

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.”

“Tl get along all right, an’ nobody shall know I’m
here,” Ikey replied; and an instant later the two mer-
chants vaulted the fence.
CHAPTER XIII.
A MEDICAL FRIEND,

Tuis 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

162
A MEDICAL FRIEND. 163

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, beck-
oning 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 im-
portance.

“No; I didn’t Lnoe that. Who told you?”

a 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 Il 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, Id say it either was n’t lamb, or else the man
what sold it did n’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
164 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

jest as cheap as anythin’ we can get,” he added. “He
could n’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:

“T don’t know as it ll do him any good, old man, but
it “Il keep him from bein’ hungry, anyhow.”

“ Are you goin’ down there this noon?”

“No; I would n’t dare to in the daytime. We shall
have to wait till night. Have you seen anythin’ of
Skip?”

“Not asmitch. 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.”

“T 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 would n’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
A MEDICAL FRIEND. 165

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.

“T'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 ae 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, enthusias-
tically. .“ 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 have n’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 youl We'll fill Ikey up with
this lamb, pet him to bed, an’ then take a sneak. We
can be back i in half an hour. Say, how would it do to
carry him along with us?”
166 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“TI would n’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.”

“JT 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 him-
self 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
A MEDICAL FRIEND. 167

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 expres-
sion he constantly wore.

“T’m ‘fraid you can’t do much,” he said, with a
sigh.

“Tt 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 con-
nection, 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
168 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 any-
thing 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 Il 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 must n’t do that! ” Carrots cried, in alarm.
“Tf you should go there in broad daylight and shin over
that fence. the folks in the shop would know jest where
we live!”
A MEDICAL FRIEND. 169

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.”

“T understand,” the gentleman replied, with a smile.
“ Then it will be necessary to bring the boy here.”

“Could n’t you fix him to-night?” Carrots asked.

'“T fancy so, unless there should be a call from some
patient.”

“T 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, care-
lessly. “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 sould be a good price, if
you were going to pay money?”

Carrots aesitated, looked around at reddy, then again
at the doctor, and finally said:
170 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“T 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, [key announced his willingness to climb
over the fence a dozen times if it should be necéssary,
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, sooth-
ingly:

“ 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:




THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR’S DOOR.































s












































































A MEDICAL FRIEND. 173

“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?”

“Tf 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 any-
thing of their enemies, and in a short time were busily
engaged discussing their future.

“Tl 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.”
174 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

Teddy suggested that they might not have a suff-
cient 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’ |
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.
A MEDICAL FRIEND. 175

“You need n’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.

SuortLy 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.”

“T 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.”

“T’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 atten-

176
THE PLOT. 177

tion; but yet he repeated the same to Teddy when he
found an opportunity.

“T 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.”

“] 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 mat-
ter, 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.

“T’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 did n’t know I was in here, an’
I lay low and I heard every word they said.”
178 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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 lis-
tened. Reddy- he said to Skip, ‘Here’s where them
fellers live.’ Skip he ‘lowed he could n'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 did n’t dare, for fear somebody’d
catch an 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.

“T heard Skip say he was goin’ to burn you out, an’
Reddy asked if he counted on doin’ it to-night. He
‘lowed he would n'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 cour-
THE PLOT. 179

age 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.

“T 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 would n’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.”

“Tt 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’;
180 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.

“J’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 him-
self 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 Thurs-
ton 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
THE PLOT. 181

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 might n’t get a chance to get away in the day-
time, 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 him-
self by the side of the invalid, who had not yet suffi-
ciently 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.
182 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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:

“Tt 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, ee 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?”

fVies.):

“ Ain’t been buyin’ the Astor House, or anything like
that?”

“Comes pretty nigh it, Carrots. I’ve found a
stand!”

“T 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 well need?”

“TI 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
THE PLOT. 183

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
could n’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 could n’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.”

“Ts it big enough to sleep in?”

“Yes; we three could get under the counter without
184 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.”

“Tve 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 busi-
ness 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
THE PLOT. 185

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’.” |

“Tt dees n'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.”

“JT ‘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 com-
pleted, 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
186. TEDDY AND CARROTS.

the clerk: “I'l come back soon’s I can, with the
mornin’ papers, and we ll open right up.”

“T°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 any-
thing.”

“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 boot-
blacking 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—boot-
black’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 zs 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 busi-
ness with his whole heart; for he understood how
necessary it was to earn the extra money which would

187
188 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

be needed until the business establishment was in a
proper financial condition, and he worked most indus-
triously.

It was hard to keep his thoughts upon the cleaning
of muddy boots when he knew thal 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.

“T 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 ereenic 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.”

“TI 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?”
THE CONFLAGRATION. 189

“T should n’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
did n'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.”

“Td 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 fora cart some-
where, or go down to the Lodgin’ House.”

If Teenie had questioned His more closely, Carrots
might have been tempted to tell his friend some ridicu-
lous 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 be-
gan; 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
190 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

papers to-day. Say, at this rate we can get in a bigger
stock by night.”

“ That’s what we want,” Carrots replied, eiauelyt
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
agin, 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 SUPE! 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
THE CONFLAGRATION. IQI

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 regu-
lar 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 per-
fect 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 min-
utes enjoying the scene, before making known his pres-
ence 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!
192 TEDDY AND. CARROTS.

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 4¢¢/e 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 Wil-
liams 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
THE CONFLAGRATION. 193

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 neces-
sary 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 /talian’s all out er
sight!”

“If my leg was n’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. “Well 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
194 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

up to-night, an’ might ’a’ done a good deal more if the
stock had n’t run out. How much do you s’pose we ’ve
made?”

“We ll soon know, after I go for a candle,” Teddy
replied. .

“T bought three, so’s we could have a reg’lar blow-
out 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 ascer-
tained, 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 part-
ner’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 ad-
mitted; “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 is n’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!”
THE CONFLAGRATION. 195

“T don’t s’pose he ‘tended to business,” Teddy said,
solemnly, as he placed the stock on a shelf, and pre-
pared 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.”

“Tf trade keeps on like this Ill ’gree not to let a
drop: of water come near me for a year,” Carrots ex-
claimed.

“ 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,” Bolo-
gnas, and pickled sheep’s tongues.

“T 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 does n’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
196 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

place such an air of home as, according to Carrots’s
ideas, it would be hard to find elsewhere.

“T 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.”

“Tf 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?”

“Tkey, 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, al-
though 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.


“ ASKED, STERNLY.”
THE CONFLAGRATION. 199

“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 eve?” he cried in aston-
ishment. “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 has n’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, ner-
vously. “Do you want everybody to hear?”

“JT 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.
200 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“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.”

“JT 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.

Tue 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 Jel-
lison 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 have n’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 Jelligon may do. I

201
202 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

did n’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 was n’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. Well 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 acquaint-
ances; 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, posi-
tively.

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-
THE CHALLENGE. 203

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 de-
posited 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 re-
plied, boldly; and then, to Carrots’s surprise, he turned.
and walked directly toward the enemy.

“Here he comes! an’ now well 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.

“T’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!”
204 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

“Yes, youre 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 !”

“T’ll make my fight anywhere I please,” Skip blus-
tered.

“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 businesslike offer pleased them
wonderfully, and they had no doubt the bully would
agree at once. But, to the surprise of all, Skip re-
mained 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 ! 1” .

“ Hold your tongue!” Master Jellison answered, look-
ing angrily around him. “Do you fellers s’pose that
‘I’m scared of him?” .

“Tf you ain’t, why don’t you do as he says?” asked
Teenie.

“T’ve got to ‘tend to my work,” Skip stammered,
THE CHALLENGE. 205

“that’s why I can’t; but I'll give him a poundin’ now,
an’ let that settle it.”

“Tf 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
have n’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.
“J did count on doin’ a good day’s work, ’cause I ve
been takin’ it easy so long; but I reckon I can spare
206 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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?” Car-
rots asked, in an anxious whisper, as, under the guid-
ance of one of the party, all hands started toward a
certain quiet and secluded spot, which had been sug-
gested by Sid Barker.

“Well, I'll try mighty hard,” said Teddy. “I don’t
take much stock in fightin’, Carrots, but this is some-
thin’ 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 CHALLENGE. 207

the rear of some dwellings on West Broadway, and said,
as he led them through a convenient opening:

“T reckon you might fight here a month without any-
body 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,” Car-
rots 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!”

“JT 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:

“TI 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
208 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

box pile on fire last night to smoke us out, or some-
thing 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 has n’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 would n’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
THE CHALLENGE. 209

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.”

“TI 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.

! hy ;
aA
7



“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.
_ “Tl let you have some to-morrow,” Skip replied, with
a whine.
“We've come here to settle matters,” Teddy insisted,
210 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 any-
thing 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 nieht. or there ll be
trouble. While you were talking so loud about pound-
ing 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 would n’t be very queer if I should have
somethin’ to say "bout the fire we saw last night.”

“T'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 wnat ‘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
THE CHALLENGE. 211

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 businesslike fashion.

' Teenie Massey was so excited because of Skip’s
212 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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.

Ir Teddy believed that his new admirers would
allow him to go on quietly with his business imme-
diately after punishing Skip Jellison, he was mistaken.

The bully had terrorized the bootblacks and news-
boys 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

213
214 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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
PROSPERITY. 215

willin’ to hunt him up this minute, if you say the
word.”

“Come on,” Sid replied, as he started in the direc-
tion 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 Cort-
landt 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! Were goin’ down to find your
pardner, so’s to kinder square ahs: 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 Silieaked: “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
216 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

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 prewous,
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.

“T knew you fellers would like Teddy when you got
acquainted with him,” he said, gleefully.

“Tt would n’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 had n’t been there.”

“But after he got out there was n’t anything done,”
Sid objected.

“You could n’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.

When the party reached South Ferry, Teddy was
found hard at work; and, like Carrots, he was at first










CARROTS DISPLAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MESSRS. THURSTON AND WILLIAMS,
PROSPERITY. 219

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 would n’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.”

“T reckon you won't see him very soon,” said Reddy.
“ Skip has n’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
220 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

glad ‘cause you thumped Skip, an’ we need n’t be ‘raid
any more that they ’ll try to make trouble for us.”

“T’d rather have waited till we had a bigger stock,
an’ youd 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 veg’/ar;”
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 dis-
cussed 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 Wil-
liams fairly outdid himself as host.
BT ones

aa



PROSPERITY,
PROSPERITY. 223

He explained what they meant to do; showed the new
chair which they had bought; described how the estab-
lishment 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 astore. 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 “squar-
224 TEDDY AND CARROTS.

ing 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
/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
PROSPERITY. 225

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.”

THE END.





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