PITCHING PENNIES
But Dick was doomed to disappointment. Early the next morning he and
Jimmy called at police headquarters.
"There's no news for you," said the sergeant. "I wired to Boston, but
the police there haven't any calls for any missing boys answering your
description. If you were a man now you might answer."
"Why, are there any men missing?" asked Dick, interested to know there
were other persons in a similar plight to his own.
"Yes, several. However, don't be discouraged. I'll keep on the
lookout, and if I hear anything I'll let you know. Better leave me
your address."
Dick gave it to the sergeant and then, rather discouraged, he left with
Jimmy to begin the day's work of selling papers.
"I guess nobody wants me back," said Dick a little sadly as, with his
bundle under his arm, he started for Wall Street.
"Sure they does," declared Jimmy. "It'll come out all right, you see.
Anyhow, I want you. I don't know what I'd a' done if it hadn't been
fer youse--I mean for you."
"Oh, I guess you'd have gotten along," replied Dick, smiling to see his
partner's efforts to talk more correctly. "However, I'm glad I'm of
some use to some one. I hope we have a good day to-day so we can put
some more money in the bank."
"Ain't we got quite a lot?"
"Yes, but I want to get enough ahead for a special purpose."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you later. It's going to be a surprise."
Then, fearing Jimmy would ask more questions, Dick hurried off.
Business was fair the rest of the week, and Saturday night Jimmy and
Dick were able to put away three dollars between them.
"Come on," said Dick that night after supper.
"Where you going?"
"To the bank."
"You don't need me to put that money in."
"No, but I'm going to draw some out."
"Draw some out? What fer--I mean what for?"
"You're going to have a new suit of clothes," declared Dick. "You need
one, and we can afford it. That is not exactly a new one, but I saw
some good second-handed clothes in a store to-day, cheap, and you need
a suit."
"I guess I do," admitted Jimmy, looking at his rather ragged one. "But
it ain't fair to take the money for that. We may need it."
"If we do we'll earn more. You have a right to look as good as
possible, now that we're in business. It will make a better impression
on the customers."
"Dat's so--I mean that's so," agreed Jimmy. "Well, I'll leave it to
you."
They went to the bank, which kept open Saturday night for the benefit
of depositors who got their wages on that day, and Dick drew out
enough, with what they had accumulated that week, to buy Jimmy a good
second-hand suit. The boy's appearance was much improved by it, and he
surveyed himself proudly.
The purchase of the suit made quite a little hole in their savings, but
Dick did not regret it. For the first time since he and Jimmy had been
partners they went walking the following Sunday in the better part of
the city. Heretofore Jimmy, with his ragged garments, had refused to
stir away from the vicinity of the lodging-house, but now he felt that
even Fifth Avenue was not too stylish for him. Certainly clothes make
a great difference to almost any one.
Dick, who had a dim recollection of having been in the habit of going
to church on Sunday, wanted to propose it to Jimmy, but he reasoned
that the newsboy might object to having too many reforms instituted at
once. So Dick decided to wait a while.
Several weeks passed, and Jimmy continued to improve in his lessons.
He could write short sentences now, and was beginning to be able to
read simple stories in an old school book Dick had purchased. The
young teacher also began to impart to his pupil a knowledge of
arithmetic, and this he found was comparatively easy, as Jimmy had a
good head for figures and was quick in making change.
Prosperity seemed to smile on the two newsboy partners. They continued
to save a little every week, and in this they were encouraged by Mr.
Snowden, manager of the lodging-house. Frank Merton, whose room was
not far from where the two boys had theirs, used frequently to come in
evenings and help Jimmy with his lessons. As Dick had a good
education, he was also of service to Frank, who had had to leave school
when very young.
"Why don't you get ready to go to night school when the term opens,
Jimmy?" proposed Frank one night.
"Maybe I will."
"That would be a good thing," agreed Dick. "I think I'll go myself."
"You? You don't want to learn any more, do you?" asked Jimmy, whose
language had improved very much.
"Indeed I do. Why, I don't know much more than you do. I must have
been going to school--in my--before the accident happened, you know,"
for that was the way Dick referred to the past.
"If we all three could go it would be fine," said Frank. "They have
good teachers at the school where I go. The term will open again in
September. That's about two months off."
The boys discussed this plan, and Dick, though he did not mention it,
had it in mind to propose to Jimmy soon that they take Frank into
partnership with them. Dick's trade in papers in the financial
district was growing to such an extent that he could scarcely take care
of all his customers, with the limited number of papers he could carry.
He was thinking of opening a stand in Wall Street if he saw a chance
for a good location. But he decided to wait a while.
In the meanwhile the police sergeant had received no word concerning
Dick, and the boy was much disappointed. However, he kept up his
courage as best he could, hoping something would occur to disclose his
identity and put him in communication with his relatives, if he had
any. He and Frank kept close watch of the reward and personal columns
of the papers, and Jimmy, whose reading had rapidly improved, also did
as much as he was able to in this respect.
Dick was beginning to feel proud of his success with Jimmy, and the
teacher, young as he was, began to perceive that the newsboy had a
sterling character. It is true that once or twice Jimmy had forgotten
his promise about smoking, and when out with other boys of his
acquaintance had indulged in a cigarette or two. But he was always
sorry for these lapses, and after telling Dick of them would make a new
resolve. He had not smoked now in over three weeks. He was using less
and less slang, too, and his manners were much improved.
These changes and the wearing of neater clothes could not but have
their effect. Though his former companions laughed at the changes in
Jimmy, he knew they were doing him good. He began to assume a more
business-like air.
"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Crosscrab one day as he stopped to buy a
paper of Jimmy. "Matters seem to be going pretty well with you. You
look prosperous."
"We're doing fine!" declared Jimmy. "It's all due to me--I mean
my--partner, though. He's all to de merry--I mean he's a fine lad."
"I must call and see him," said the young man. "I should like to meet
such a sensible business boy, as you tell me he is. Perhaps I could
help him, as I am thinking of going into business myself here in New
York."
"Say, don't bust up--I mean break up our partnership," pleaded Jimmy.
"I wouldn't know what to do now without Dick."
"Yes, I guess it would be a pity to separate you. Well, I'll not do
it."
But if Dick expected Jimmy was going to improve all at once, and drop
all his manners and customs learned of a long association with street
urchins, he was disappointed. One day, when Dick came up from Wall
Street a little earlier than usual, he went to Barclay Street and
Broadway to look for Jimmy. He did not find him there as he expected.
"Seen Jimmy?" he asked of Sam Schmidt, who was standing there selling
papers.
"Yah. He und Ted Snook, dey iss gone off."
"Gone off? Where?"
"Hush! Don't say nottings, but Jimmy he ask me t' take his place und
sell vot babers he had left."
"What did he do that for?"
"Hush! He und Ted, dey is goin' t' pitch pennies."
"Pitch pennies?"
"Yah! Down by der Battery, vere dere ain't no cobs. Der cobs 'ud
arrest 'em if dey ketched 'em, so dey vent down dere. Ted he sait as
how he could beat Jimmy, und Jimmy says as how he can vin all Ted's
pennies. So dey are at it, und I is sellin' Jimmy's babers."
"Pitching pennies!" exclaimed Dick to himself, with a little sinking of
his heart. "I hope Jimmy doesn't do much of that gambling. If he gets
in with that crowd he'll begin smoking again. I must go after him."
And he started toward the Battery to look for his erring partner.