James Otis

“ If you get the best of me when we're where nobody'll interfere with us, I'll leave; an' if I get the best of you, why, then I'll get back my dollar, an' you'll have to behave yourself."
Boys like pluck, and even Skip's friends applauded this remark. Teddy's business-like offer pleased them wonderfully, and they had no doubt the bully would agree at once. But, to the surprise of all, Skip remained silent.
"He don't dare do it!" Teenie jeered. "He's afraid of gettin' the worst of it—same's he did that day over in Brooklyn!" ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ If you should try down by South Ferry, or 'round here anywhere, everybody'd do their best to drive you out, same's Skip did. I b'long up to City Hall, so they can't shove me away from there; an' the bootblacks in any place else would raise a row if I come takin' trade away."
"It don't seem as though they'd dare to do such things," said Teddy, thoughtfully. "You've as much right on one street as another."
"That's the way I s'pose it looks to a stranger; but it ain't so, jest the same. Now if a new feller come where I was workin' I'd turn in with the others to drive him off, of course." ”

“ It can thus be seen that Master Thurston was on very good terms with himself, and feeling perfectly satisfied with his attempt to earn a livelihood in the metropolis. As Carrots had dreamed of the farm, so Teddy had often pictured to himself how he would live and conduct his business when once the stand was an assured fact ”

“ Teddy said, as he deposited his share of the stock on the counter. "Keep your eyes open while we're gone, Ikey, because it may be quite a while before we get back."
Carrots followed his partner in silence, and the clocks were striking seven when they arrived at the City Hall.
"Don't go over there yet," Carrots said, nervously, as he pointed toward a group of boys. "Skip has got every feller in town with him. You're certain to get the worst of it."
"He can't have too many to please me," Teddy replied, boldly; and then, to Carrots's surprise, he turned and walked directly toward the enemy. ”

“ TEENIE MASSEY'S EVENING CALL AT CARROTS'S RESIDENCE.
Before he had succeeded in solving the problem, however, a shrill whistle was heard from the alleyway, and Carrots muttered to himself as he crawled through the passage out from among the boxes:
"I wonder what Teenie Massey wants? A feller that's got so much business on his hands as I have can't 'ford to waste a great deal of time with visitors."
"Hi! Carrots, are you there?" Teenie asked.
"Of course I am! Where do you s'pose a feller would be at this time of night?" ”

“ 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! ”

“ If we're goin' to have a row, let's get over with it as soon as we can."
"That's what I was countin' on; but I'll tell you we'd better not work to-day. It's no use to rush, an' by to-morrow Skip 'll be over his mad fit a little, most likely. He won't do anything but hunt for us till night, an' in the mornin' he'll need money so bad he'll have to go to work."
Teddy realized that Carrots's advice must be good, since he was thoroughly acquainted with the ways of the city; yet at the same time he was impatient because of the enforced idleness when it seemed necessary he should be at work. ”

“ Talk 'bout good livin' in the country! Why, a feller'd starve to death there in a week! I never saw sich a place! 'Bout the time you go to sleep they call you to get up; an' I do b'lieve yesterday it wasn't more'n late in the evenin' when that farmer yelled for me to turn out an' feed the stock. Feed the stock! Well, now, I'll tell you what—I wanted to feed myself, but didn't get the chance!"
"So you found out that livin' on a farm wasn't so pleasant as you thought?" Teddy said, laughingly; for he had a very good idea of what Carrots's experiences might have been. ”

“ Teddy replied.
"That's a fact," said Carrots. "It didn't seem much to loaf 'round a little while; but it counts up when you come to look at it."
"You can jest bet it does; an' if you'll keep watch of yourself for another week, we'll be in mighty good shape to set ourselves up in business. There's plenty of money to be earned 'round here, an' if a feller doesn't spend it as fast as he gets it, it won't be long before he's on his feet." ”

“ It seemed strange to both the merchants that Skip Jellison made no effort to annoy them on this day, and they could account for it only on the supposition that he did really intend to carry out his plan of destroying the packing-case home by fire.
No one should censure Carrots for ceasing his labors at an unusually [Pg 191] 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. ”

“ So he was glad when Carrots said:
"I ain't blamin' you, Teenie; but I can tell you one thing sure: what ain't known can't be told. If Skip Jellison should 'low he was jest about goin' to thump the life out er you if you didn't repeat everything I said, why, you might have to give up. So I don't think it's best for us to have any talk. Of course I'm sure you won't tell where I'm livin'." ”

“ Reddy added, as he slipped another coin into Teddy's hand.
"But it was Skip who stole the money," the boy from Saranac said, with some confusion; "an' he ought to give it back."
"I reckon you won't see him very soon," said Reddy. "Skip hasn't got the nerve to show his face round here ag'in, for he knows nearly every feller has something against him. We used the money he gave us, so it's no more'n right we should give it back."
"An' you'd better work round City Hall," Reddy added. "You're a dandy, an' if there's anything we can do to help you along, just say the word!" ”

“ Teddy replied, mournfully, speaking in an ordinary tone. Then, glancing around, the policeman noticed that his prisoner was holding a conversation with a seeming friend.
"Now, then, what do you want, young chap?" the officer asked.
"Nothin' at all," said Carrots. "It ain't ag'in' the law to speak to a fellow, is it, when he's walkin' through the streets?"
"Is this boy a friend of yours?"
"Bet your life he is, off'cer!" Carrots replied, earnestly. "Why, we're jest like twins. You don't s'pose I'm goin' to see him lugged away when he ain't been doin' nothin' at all, do you?" ”

“ His first act was to extinguish the candle, lest the rays of light should betray his whereabouts, for he had no doubt that the intruder was Skip Jellison, with, probably, a number of followers.
With such thoughts in his mind it cannot be wondered at that he was [Pg 113] startled beyond the power of speech when he heard the familiar voice of Carrots in a cautious tone:
"It's only me! Don't get flustered!" and an instant later the would-be farmer was once more inside the packing-case dwelling.
"Good gracious! Where'd you come from?" Teddy cried, after standing like a statue for several seconds. ”

“ Pitch in an' have things fine. We can 'ford to invest what's been made to-day, and you'd better buy the stuff right away," Carrots said as he handed Teddy the money he had earned. "I'll get more between now an' night to buy the supper with, so you don't want ter tend to anything like that."
Teddy was undecided as to whether this would be a wise move, so soon after taking upon themselves the expense of paying rent; but his partner was so eager it should be done that he finally consented, and hurried away to buy the additional stock, while Carrots searched for customers. ”

“ It seemed absolutely necessary for Carrots to talk at great length about [Pg 108] 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. ”

“ He ought ter make up his mind he's goin' to have a place, an' buy it. After that he can 'low to have a store, an' get one, too. All he has to do is to work hard, an' save his money for a while."
"I don't know 'bout that," Carrots replied, with a grave shake of his head. "I've tried as hard as any feller to get 'long, but don't own more'n ninety cents in the world to-day."
"Well, I'm going to try it in the city till I make up my mind it can't be done, an' p'rhaps then I'd be willin' to go out on a farm; but it'll [Pg 82] be a good while before that time comes, Carrots. ”

“ Carrots rubbed his nose reflectively, thereby adding to the smudge of blacking which now extended nearly from ear to ear; and, noticing it, Teddy asked, earnestly:
"Say, why don't you wash your face?"
"What would be the good of that?"
"You'd look more decent, anyhow. I b'lieve folks'd rather buy things of a feller who's clean, than of one lookin' like an Injun."
"But when a man has his boots shined, he doesn't care whether my face is white or red, so long's he gets a polish." ”

“ I'll try it a spell, anyhow."
"We allers 'low, when it's 'greed a new hand can go to work, that he stands treat the first thing."
"Oh, I see! Well, I don't have to do that, 'cause it ain't been 'greed yet. When I want you fellers to tell me what I can do, perhaps I may come down 'cordin' to your idees; but jest now I've got too much business on hand;" and the stranger walked away, as if these young gentlemen, who claimed to control the newspaper business of New York City, were of no especial importance in his eyes. ”

“ Carrots asked, dolefully.
"No; but I don't count on his thinkin' 'bout it all the time. We've got somethin' else to do besides botherin' with Skip Jellison. S'posin' you turn to an' give up everythin' for the next month jest to pay him back, an' then do it, what have you made? Why, nothin' at all—you 're jest where you are to-day. Now we've got a comfortable place to live in, and money enough to feed us for the next two or three days, even if we don't do any business; an' as good a chance to earn ourselves a stand as any other fellers ever had." ”

“ Carrots cried in delight. "Is it a whack?" [Pg 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." ”