Teddy and Carrots: Two Merchants of Newpaper Row Part 15

"I ain't so sure of that. I tell you, when a feller's got a bed to get inter, an' plenty of stuff to eat, it's a pretty soft snap. I'd like to try it 'bout a month."

"That would be long enough," Teddy said; and then, by way of putting an end to the conversation, he nestled into the straw as if to go to sleep.

Carrots moved about very gingerly, as if his whole nature had been changed by the was.h.i.+ng of his face.

At last he blew out the candle, snuffed the glowing end with his thumb and finger, and followed his friend's example.

Next morning Carrots was aroused by the sun s.h.i.+ning upon his face, and, after awakening his friend, he explained why it was necessary for them to leave the packing-case home at such an early hour.

From the Company's funds was spent sufficient to buy two bowls of soup; and then, advised by Carrots, Teddy agreed to remain in the vicinity of South Ferry, rather than to make an attempt to do business around City Hall Park, until Master Jellison's anger should have had time to subside.

"I'll see you when you come up for the afternoon papers," Carrots said as they parted. "But you can count on my hustlin' the best I know how toward gettin' to-day's share of the ten dollars."

"Be sure you don't have any trouble with Skip," Teddy cautioned his friend, and then the two separated, each intent on swelling the Company's funds to the greatest possible extent before night.

When noon came, and it was necessary for Teddy to replenish his stock, he failed to find his partner around the newspaper offices.

This absence of Carrots did not trouble him particularly, since Teddy was quite confident the boy was attending to his own business; and he felt positive it would not be safe for him to search very long after the missing partner, lest he should encounter the enemy.

Therefore it was that he returned to his labors without consultation with his business a.s.sociate; and when it was so late that there could be no danger the occupants of the store would see him entering the dwelling in the corner of the yard, he again clambered over the fence.

Master Carrots was at home, and, as could be told from his face, labouring under the most intense excitement.

"I've done it!" he cried to Teddy before the latter had time to speak.

"I've done it, an' we'll have to give up the pardners.h.i.+p business, 'cause this is the best chance I'll get."

"Done what?" Teddy asked in surprise.

"Got a place to work on a farm."

"Are you goin' to leave the city?" Teddy asked, anxiously.

"I'll have to, of course, if I do that. You see, it happened this way: Every feller I met this mornin' told me what Skip had threatened to do, an' I reckon he means business. He says we've both got to leave this town before he goes to work ag'in, an' what's more, he an' Sid Barker wouldn't let me stay 'round Printin' House Square at all. I had to take a sneak, or else stand the chance of gettin' 'rested for fightin', so I went down to Vesey Street Market. Trade wasn't so awful good there, an'

I was kind er loafin' 'round when a farmer come up an' says, 'h.e.l.lo, son. Don't know of any boy 'round here what wants to go out in the country, do you?' Well, you know, that struck me jest right. I said of course I knew a boy, an' I showed him right up, 'cause it was me, an' I hadn't far to go to find myself. Well, the farmer acted as if he was tickled 'most to death, an' he said as how I was the very kind of a feller he was lookin' for; that he'd give me a good home an' make it cheerful; besides, I'd have lots of fun runnin' in the fields."

"How much is he goin' to pay you?" Teddy asked.

"Well, you see, we ain't settled on that yet. He thought I'd better come out and try it for a while, so's he could tell how much I was worth, an'

then we'd talk 'bout wages afterward."

"An' are you willin' to go on them promises?"

"Willin'? Why, it's a reg'lar snap! I'd like to stay here an' try to buy that stand with you; but what's the use if Skip's goin' to raise sich a row? Besides, if we've got to sneak 'round all the poorest places to work, we sha'n't make enough to pay for our grub, an' out there I'll have all I can eat."

"Well, Carrots, I'm sorry to have you go jest when we've got acquainted, an' it seemed as though we'd get along well together; but if you're set on farmin', you'll have to try it, I reckon. I'll stay here an' keep on workin', so's when you get ready to come back there'll be somethin' to eat, 'less Skip Jellison succeeds in doin' what he counts on."

"I may drop 'round in a month or two, jest to see how you're gettin'

along," Carrots replied, with an air of condescension; "but of course I'm bound to stay out there a year anyhow, when I start in once."

"When are you goin'?"

"To-morrow noon."

"Come down to South Ferry before you go, an' when you get back, Carrots, I guess you'll find me at the same place, 'cause trade was pretty fair to-day."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I SAID I KNEW A BOY, AN' I SHOWED HIM RIGHT UP."]

"Oh, you'll be up 'round City Hall by that time."

"It'll take me longer'n a week to get things straightened out, an' you won't stay there six days, 'less you're a different feller from what I think you are," Teddy replied, with an air of conviction that surprised his friend.

CHAPTER IX.

THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.

It seemed absolutely necessary for Carrots to talk at great length about 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. "You want back the forty-three cents you paid inter the concern, an' then, of course, what you made to-day all goes to yourself.

I don't have any interest in it."

"That ain't the right thing to do. I took in sixty-five cents, an' half of it belongs to you."

"There's no need of dividin' it, 'cause I made fifty-two myself; so let each feller keep his profits, an' it'll be fair. Now here's the rest of your money," and Teddy pushed toward him a small pile of nickels and pennies.

"I don't want to take it," Carrots objected, mournfully. "When I'm away I'd rather think some of my money was here, an', p'rhaps, when I come back on a vacation, I'll need a little. Then you can let me have it."

Teddy would have preferred to settle the business at once; but Carrots appeared so anxious to have a pecuniary interest in the city, that he said in conclusion:

"Well, we'll let it go your way, Carrots, an' when you come back I'll be here, 'less somethin' happens to me."

Then the two talked further of the farm, and suddenly Carrots was reminded of a very important piece of business.

"Well, I'll be jiggered! If I didn't forget all 'bout that lawyer! Now it wouldn't do to slip up on him, would it?"

"Of course not."

"Why couldn't you go over every mornin' and fix the thing?"

"I can, Carrots, an' I will. It's no more'n right, 'cause you made the debt on my account, an' I ought ter pay it. Say, I don't s'pose you'd care if I should use your box while you're gone, would you? I've been thinkin' perhaps by carryin' the outfit with me I might get a chance to black boots when business was dull."

"Of course you can; but you must keep your eye peeled pretty slick, 'cause the fellers don't like to see a boy try to run both kinds of work, an' they'll be apt to make a row."

"I'll risk that part of it. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"