Teddy and Carrots: Two Merchants of Newpaper Row Part 2

"What's your name?" he asked, as he moved slowly toward one of the benches, with an air which invited the bootblack to sit down.

"Well, it's Joseph Williams; but n.o.body 'round here calls me that. The fellers sing out 'Carrots' when they want me, 'cause you see my hair is red."

"Yes, I could tell that in the dark," Teddy said with a smile, as he looked at Master Williams's flame-colored head.

"I don't care what they call me. If it does 'em any good to sing out 'Carrots' whenever I go by, why, let 'em do it. But that's what makes me think 'bout goin' to farmin'."

"What is?"

"'Cause they yell so much 'bout carrots. I don't know as I'd like sich things, for I never eat any; but it seems as if a feller that's so red-headed as I am b'longs in the country."

"I don't know how you make that out."

"Neither do I; but that's the way it looks to me. Must be nice to be where there's gra.s.s, so's you can get up in the mornin' an' run 'round in the fields."

"Yes; but that's what you wouldn't be doin'. If you was livin' on a farm you'd have to hustle, an' there's enough work in the mornin' without runnin' 'round the fields, I tell you."

"What did you use ter do?"

"Well, first place, I fed the cows. We didn't keep any sheep; but I looked after the hosses an' pigs, an' then there was a pesky little calf that gave me lots o' trouble. But look here," Teddy added quickly, "there's plenty of time for me to tell you 'bout a farm. Jest now I want er do somethin' to earn my livin.' Can you show me where to get some papers?"

"Are you goin' into the business sure?"

"Only for a little while. I don't count on sellin' papers all my life.

You see, I 'low to make money enough so's I can go inter somethin'

reg'lar for myself."

"Oh, you do, eh?" and Master Carrots indulged in a bit of sarcasm.

"Well, I reckon it'll be a pretty long while before you earn that much.

You'll be mighty lucky to have all you want er eat, an' a place to sleep. What have you got in your pocket?"

"Nothin' pertic'lar. That's my baggage," and, in order to prove his friendliness toward the red-haired stranger, Teddy displayed the contents of the newspaper parcel, greatly to the surprise of his new acquaintance.

"What's that little brush for?"

"Why, to clean my teeth, of course."

Carrots looked at his new friend in surprise which amounted almost to bewilderment.

"Well," Teddy asked, "what's the matter?"

"Well, seems as if you was puttin' on a good deal of style for a feller that hasn't got money enough to buy the outfit for the bootblack trade."

"I don't know as there's anything so queer 'bout that; but you fellers seem to think there's no call to keep yourselves lookin' clean."

"Well, you see, we don't claim to be swells."

"Yes, so I see," Teddy replied; then he added: "Say, these fellers seem to be sellin' a good many papers. S'pos'n' you show me where to buy some?"

"All right; come along;" and, slinging his box over his shoulder, Carrots started across Printing House Square, threading his way in and out of the vehicles in a manner which seemed to Teddy almost criminally reckless.

More than once, before the short journey was ended, did the boy from Saranac fancy he would be trampled under the feet of the horses; but, by dint of his own exertions, aided now and then by a vigorous pull from his guide, he was soon standing in an ill-ventilated room, where half a dozen fellows were clamouring for round flat pieces of bra.s.s.

"Here--I don't want those," Teddy said, as Carrots led the way to the desk where the disks were being sold.

"But you've got to have the checks if you count on gettin' papers. Give me your money. How many do you want?"

"I'll take twenty cents' worth, anyhow, an' see what I can do with them as a starter;" and Teddy handed the pennies confidently to his new acquaintance.

Carrots laid the coins in front of the busy man at the desk, received the bits of bra.s.s, and with them went to the counter on which large numbers of newspapers were lying, where he received Teddy's first stock in trade.

"Find out what the news is, an' yell the best you know how," Carrots said, pus.h.i.+ng the young gentleman from Saranac toward the street-door; and five minutes later the new merchant was following his friend's advice to the letter, by crying his wares in such a manner as excited the mirth of the other dealers.

"It seems to me I ain't doin' this jest right," Teddy said to himself, and then he waited a moment, listening to the more experienced venders.

It was not long before he succeeded in imitating their cries, and had already sold four papers when Skip Jellison, who was accompanied by his friends Sid Barker and Teenie Ma.s.sey, appeared in view.

"There he is!" Teenie cried in his shrillest tones. "Now let's see you go for him! He's actin' as if he owned the whole town!"

Skip prepared for battle by rolling up his coat-sleeves, and settling his dilapidated cap more firmly on his head. Then, running swiftly forward, he confronted Teddy as he was on the point of selling a paper to a gentleman through a horse-car window.

Skip did not wait to be attacked, for he believed in striking the first blow as a means of confusing the enemy; and, before Teddy recognized the boy who had threatened him, he received a severe blow in the face which caused him to reel backward.

The paper fell from his hand, the horse-car continued its way, and this important transaction in news was nipped in the bud, to the serious loss of the young merchant.

Teddy was bewildered for an instant, as Skip had expected, and he did not recover his self-possession until Master Jellison had struck him once more, this time without serious effect, since the blow, being a hasty one, glanced from the boy's shoulder.

It sufficed, however, to throw Teddy's stock of papers into the mud of the street, thereby ruining several so that they would not sell to fastidious customers; and this, more than the injury received, aroused Teddy's ire.

The boy from Saranac may have been ignorant concerning the customs of the city, but he was thoroughly well aware that it was necessary to defend himself; and, an instant later, Skip found he had quite as much on hand as he could attend to properly.

Teddy, giving no heed to his wares, struck out with more strength than science, and forced his adversary to beat a swift retreat.

"Now you've got it!" Teenie shrieked, as if delighted that Skip had met an opponent who was a match for him.

But Skip paid no heed to Teenie, and, raising his fists as an invitation to Teddy to "come on," awaited the conclusion of the battle, confident as to who would be the victor.

Teddy had no idea of holding back; for this attack was but the beginning of a series which was intended to drive him out of business, and it was necessary it should be repulsed if he wished to earn his livelihood by the sale of newspapers.

Therefore he advanced boldly, and aimed what was intended for a stinging blow at his antagonist's face; but it was met by Skip's arm, and, before Teddy could raise his hand again, Teenie squeaked loudly and shrilly enough to have been heard at the post-office:

"Cops! Hi, fellers, here's de cops!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: TEDDY IS ARRESTED, WHILE HIS ENEMIES ESCAPE.]

Teddy was wholly at a loss to know what was meant by this cry, although he understood it was one of warning; and as he looked around to ascertain the cause, Skip turned and immediately started at full speed across the park, intent only on escaping from the blue-coated guardians of the peace.

With a cry of triumph, Teddy followed in pursuit; but before he had traversed twenty yards a heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder, and he found himself in the clutches of one of the park guards.