Fame and Fortune Part 38

"You've got me into trouble, Mr. Gilbert," said Micky, "and I want you to get me out of it."

"What does he mean?" asked Gilbert, coolly, addressing the policeman.

"You hired me to steal a man's pocket-book, and I'm took up for it,"

said Micky. "I want you to help me, or I'll be sent to the Island."

"The boy must be crazy," said Gilbert, shrugging his shoulders.

"You give me a dollar to do it," said Micky, very much incensed at the desertion of his confederate.

"Do you know the boy?" asked the policeman respectfully, for he put no faith in Micky's statement.

"He blacked my boots once," said Gilbert. "That's all I know about him.

What is he arrested for?"

"For picking pockets. There was another boy arrested on suspicion, but it appeared on trial that he was innocent, and that this boy really took the wallet."

"He looks like a young scamp," said Gilbert, coolly. "I'm much obliged to him for introducing my name into the matter. I hope he'll get his desserts."

This was too much for Micky's patience. He a.s.sailed Gilbert with such a shower of oaths that the policeman tightened his grip, and shook him vigorously. Gilbert shrugged his shoulders, and walked off with apparent unconcern.

"Wait till I get free," said Micky, furiously. "I'll fix him."

In regard to Micky, I have only to say further at this time, that he was at once conveyed to the Tombs, summarily tried and convicted, and spent the same night on Blackwell's Island, where we leave him for three months.

CHAPTER XX.

BEFORE THE PARTY.

"You'll be able to attend Ida Greyson's party after all, d.i.c.k," said Fosd.i.c.k, on Tuesday evening.

"Yes," said d.i.c.k, "I was afraid that I should be wanted to grace the fas.h.i.+onable circles at Blackwell's Island; but as my particular friend Micky Maguire has kindly offered to go in my place, I shall be able to keep my other engagement."

"Micky's a bad fellow."

"I'm afraid he is," said d.i.c.k; "but he's never had a fair chance. His father was a drunkard, and used to beat him and his mother, till Micky ran away from home, and set up for himself. He's never had any good example set him."

"You speak kindly of Micky, considering he has always been your enemy."

"I haven't any ill will against Micky," said d.i.c.k, generously. "If I ever can do him a good turn I will. I've been luckier than he and most of my old companions, I'm going to do all I can to help them along.

There's good in them if you can only bring it out."

d.i.c.k spoke earnestly, in a very different tone from his usual one. He had a certain philosophy of his own, and had always taken the world easily, however it treated him; but he had a warm and sympathizing heart for the sufferings of others, and he felt that he was in a position to befriend his old a.s.sociates, and encourage them to higher aims and a better mode of life.

"You're a good fellow, d.i.c.k," said Fosd.i.c.k. "It isn't everybody that is so charitable to the faults of others."

"I know one," said d.i.c.k, smiling.

"You mean me; but I'm afraid you are mistaken. I can't say I feel very well disposed towards Micky Maguire."

"Maybe Micky'll reform and turn out well after all."

"It would be a wonderful change."

"Haven't both of us changed wonderfully in the last eighteen months?"

"You were always a good fellow, even when you were Ragged d.i.c.k."

"You say that because you are my friend, Fosd.i.c.k."

"I say it because it's true, d.i.c.k. You were always ready to take the side of the weak against the strong, and share your money with those who were out of luck. I had a hard time till I fell in with you."

"Thank you," said d.i.c.k; "if I ever want a first-rate recommendation I'll come to you. What a lot of friends I've got! Mr. Gilbert offered to get me another place if I'd only resign my situation at Rockwell & Cooper's."

"He's a very disinterested friend," said Fosd.i.c.k, laughing. "Do you think of accepting his offer?"

"I'm afraid I might not be suited with the place he'd get me," said d.i.c.k. "He thinks I'm best fitted to adorn the office of a boot-black.

Maybe he'd appoint me his private boot-black; but I'm afraid I shouldn't be able to retire on a fortune till I was two or three hundred, if I accepted the situation."

"What shall we wear to the party, d.i.c.k?"

"We've got good suits of clothes. We can carry them to a tailor's and have them pressed, and they will look well enough. I saw a splendid necktie to-day at a store on Broadway. I'm going to buy it."

"You have a weakness for neckties, d.i.c.k."

"You see, Fosd.i.c.k, if you have a striking necktie, people will look at that, and they won't criticise your face."

"There may be something in that, d.i.c.k. I feel a little nervous though.

It is the first fas.h.i.+onable party I ever attended."

"Well," said d.i.c.k, "I haven't attended many. When I was a boot-black I found it interfered with my business, and so I always declined all the fas.h.i.+onable invitations I got."

"You'd have made a sensation," said Fosd.i.c.k, "if you had appeared in the costume you then wore."

"That's what I was afraid of. I don't want to make a sensation. I'm too modest."

In fact both the boys, though they were flattered by Ida's invitation, looked forward rather nervously to the evening of the party. For the first time they were to meet and mingle on terms of equality with a large number of young people who had been brought up very differently from themselves. d.i.c.k could not help remembering how short a time had elapsed since, with his little wooden box strapped to his back, he used to call out, "Black your boots?" in the city park. Perhaps some of his old customers might be present. Still he knew that he had improved greatly, and that his appearance had changed for the better. It was hardly likely that any one seeing him in Mr. Greyson's drawing-room, would identify him as the Ragged d.i.c.k of other days. Then there was another ground for confidence. Ida liked him, and he had a sincere liking for the little girl for whom he had a feeling such as a brother has for a cherished younger sister. So d.i.c.k dressed himself for the party, feeling that he should "get through it somehow."

I need not say, of course, that his boots shone with a l.u.s.tre not to be surpa.s.sed even by the professional expert of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. It was very evident that d.i.c.k had not forgotten the business by which he once gained his livelihood.

When d.i.c.k had arranged his necktie to suit him, which I am bound to confess took at least quarter of an hour, had carefully brushed his hair, and dusted his clothes, he certainly looked remarkably well. d.i.c.k was not vain, but he was anxious to appear to advantage on his first appearance in society. It need not be added that Fosd.i.c.k also was neatly dressed, but he was smaller and more delicate-looking than d.i.c.k, and not likely to attract so much attention.

As the boys were descending the stairs they met Miss Peyton.