Teddy and Carrots: Two Merchants of Newpaper Row Part 22

As foot-rests there were two deformed camels in bronzed iron, each bearing on its back a piece of iron fas.h.i.+oned 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 establishment; 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 accomplished by industry. In his mind's eye he saw the firm's news-stand, in one corner of which could be placed a small stove during the cold weather, with a s.p.a.ce 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 packing-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 s.h.i.+nin'."

Carrots obeyed without a murmur, for the green news-stand and the bra.s.s-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 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 estimated 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 a crumb. Will you go and get the supper, or shall I?"

"I'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.

"I 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 as he was about to climb the fence, the sound of hurried 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 Ma.s.sey, 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 hasn'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' anywhere. Say, Teddy, he ain't had a thing to eat to-day."

"Why didn't you give him some of that 'leven cents?"

"That's what I wanted to do; but I was 'fraid you wouldn't like it."

"You ought to know better'n that. I've been hungry myself too many times since I left Saranac, not to understand how a feller feels."

"I'll 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 wouldn't be any bother if Ikey stayed here with us till he gets better. An' jest as soon's he's well he'll be willin' to pay us back what it'll cost for his grub. He isn't much of an eater, anyway. I could 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."

"It's as much yours as mine, since we went inter partners.h.i.+p."

"It 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 back-bone right out of it."

"Shall I go with you?" Teddy asked.

[Ill.u.s.tration: IKEY BEFORE THE GROCER'S WINDOW.]

"No; I can get him up here alone if you'll stand by the gate so's to catch him when I h'ist him over," said Carrots, "'cause he's lame an'

can't do much s.h.i.+nnin' 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 running 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 a.s.sist.

"Are you there, Teddy?" Carrots asked in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

"Yes; let him come!"

"I'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 a.s.sisted 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 hards.h.i.+ps 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 as one fancies would be proper for some blood-thirsty revolutionist. But, although he looked so thoroughly ferocious, Ikey was by no means a dangerous character. As Carrots had said, he was shorter than Teenie Ma.s.sey, 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 candlesticks. 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 _is_ 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.