The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 42

"Did you open the packet?"

"Yes, but I couldn't make nothing out of it--'cos I ain't eddicated. I read his name on it and got another fellow to write a postal card yesterday afternoon. He came here, examined the papers, and seemed much pleased."

"No doubt he was pleased," groaned the young oarsman.

"Was the thing worth much?"

"It was worth a good deal. I would have given five dollars to get it back."

"What does he want with it?"

"Wants to do my father out of some property," answered our hero. "By the way, who is that little girl who lives with you?"

At this question Crazy Jim's face darkened.

"That ain't none of your business," he growled.

"You shouldn't send her out on the street to beg."

"Wot! has she been blabbin' again? I'll break every bone in her body!" and off the man started out of the room and down the narrow stairs.

Jerry had noticed that his breath smelt strongly of liquor. He was not only a drinking man, but also one who was not quite right in his head.

"Don't hurt her, you brute!" called out the boy, and followed him out of the alleyway into the street. At the nearest corner stood the little girl, and Crazy Jim rushed up to her fiercely.

"You good-fer-nothin'!" he bawled. "I'll teach ye a lesson! Didn't I tell ye ter keep yer clapper still about me? Take that! and that!"

He raised his heavy hand and struck her a cruel blow on the side of the head. She staggered back, and he was about to repeat his unjust action, when Jerry thought it about time to interfere. Catching him by the arm, our hero hurled him backward with such force that he fell flat in the gutter.

At once a shout went up from those who saw Jerry's action.

"What are yer doin'?"

"Who is that boy?"

With a fearful exclamation, Crazy Jim arose to his feet.

"I'll fix ye fer that!" he hissed, and sprang forward. "You ain't got no right ter interfere between me an' the gal."

"You are a brute!" burst out our hero. "This little girl has done nothing to deserve such punishment."

"Who set you over me?" howled the infuriated man. "I'll fix ye!"

He tried his best to hit Jerry with his fist, but the young oarsman dodged him and took a stand in front of the little girl.

"You had better run away," Jerry whispered to her. "He is in a terrible mood just now."

"Where shall I go?" whimpered the girl.

"Anywhere. Up two blocks. I will join you soon."

Without delay the little girl ran off. Crazy Jim tried to follow her, but Jerry headed him off.

Seeing he could do nothing with his hands, the savage man looked around for some weapon. A heavy stone was lying handy, and he picked it up. The next moment it was launched at our hero's head.

Luckily, Jerry was quick at dodging, or he might have been seriously wounded. The missile went sailing over the lad's head and flew with a crash through the front window of a neighboring store.

The smas.h.i.+ng of the pane of gla.s.s was followed by a shout of alarm from the storekeeper, who sat in a chair on the pavement.

"Here, vot's dot?" he yelled. "Vot you means py preaking mine vinder, hey, you Crazy Gim? I vos got you locked up. Ain't it? Bolice! bolice!"

The German storekeeper continued to yell so loudly that it was not long before an officer appeared. Seeing this, Jerry backed out of the crowd and hurried off. He saw the policeman catch Crazy Jim by the arm, and a wordy war followed. A minute later the fellow was being marched off to the station-house. No doubt the policeman would have liked it had he found Jerry, but our hero kept at a safe distance.

It was now quite dark, and it was with some difficulty that Jerry again found the little girl. She stood by a hitching post, sobbing bitterly.

"Where is he?" she asked, choking back her sobs.

"The policeman took him off. Don't cry any more," Jerry added, soothingly.

"But where shall I go?" she asked. "I can't go back."

"Have you no friends?"

"No. Crazy Jim and I came to New York alone when papa died."

"Where did you come from?"

The little girl shook her head at this. She had been too young to remember.

"What is your name?"

"Dottie."

"Dottie what?"

"Nothing, only Dottie."

Jerry was in a quandary. To a certain degree he felt responsible for her present forlorn condition. Suddenly an idea struck him.

"If you will come with me, I'll see to it that you have a good bed to-night, and breakfast in the morning," he said. "And after that I'll see what I can do for you, Dottie."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Jerry Upton."

"You look like a nice boy and I'll go with you," and she placed her hand confidently in that of the young oarsman.

Jerry took the little one to Nellie Ardell's apartments. Of course she was much surprised, and, sitting down, our hero had to explain everything as far as he was able. Nellie Ardell agreed instantly to take the little girl in.