Teddy and Carrots: Two Merchants of Newpaper Row Part 24

"I never thought of that. I reckon I'd better let you 'tend to things anyhow. You seem to know more'n I do."

The invalid welcomed them very cordially, as might have been expected from one who had been forced not only to remain inactive, but absolutely silent, during the many hours of their absence.

In reply to Carrots's questions, he represented himself as being comparatively comfortable, and stated that, although the time had seemed long, he was more than glad to be there, rather than on the streets enduring such suffering as must necessarily be his while moving around.

The first duty of the evening was to count the money, and it was learned that they had earned one dollar and twenty-six cents, exclusive of the amount spent for food procured on their way home.

"That makes us pretty nigh five dollars," Teddy said, as he placed these profits with the others. "If nothin' happens it won't be so very long before we'll be in great shape for doin' business."

Again Carrots had visions of the green news-stand and bra.s.s-covered bootblacking outfit, and from this reverie he was awakened when Teddy prepared the evening meal by unwrapping the papers in which the food had been brought.

This reminded Carrots of the scheme formed for the benefit of the invalid, and he handed the sheep's tongues to Ikey, as he said:

"There, old man, I want you to fill yourself right up on that, 'cause Miss Carter said they was awful good for sick people, an' I 'low they'll straighten you out in pretty nigh less'n no time!"

Then Carrots explained what they intended to do in regard to securing a doctor, and Ikey's eyes glistened as he thought of getting relief from his sufferings, which must have been great, judging from the expression he constantly wore.

"I'm 'fraid you can't do much," he said, with a sigh.

"It won't do any harm to try," Carrots replied, as he began to satisfy his own hunger; and when the meal was brought to a close, owing to the fact that neither of the partners could eat any more, Teddy led the way to the street again, the invalid expressing his earnest hope that the doctor might accede to their wishes.

Fortunately for their purpose, upon arriving at the doctor's office, they found him at home and not busy.

Singular as it may seem, he did not recognize Carrots until he had been told of the previous business connection, and even then appeared almost indifferent in regard to seeing his friend again.

Teddy had supposed Master Carrots was to attend to this portion of the task, owing to his acquaintance with the physician; but instead of doing so, his young partner, after entering the office, stood first on one foot and then on the other, staring at the medical gentleman in a manner well calculated to make a nervous person uncomfortable.

"Well, what can I do for you?" the doctor asked.

Carrots looked around at Teddy as he said, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper:

"You tell him, old man. You can fix things up better'n I can."

Master Thurston opened negotiations by proceeding at once to the heart of the matter.

"We want ter hire a doctor," he said. "You see, Ikey Cain's got a lame leg, an' we haven't done anything for it yet except to give him some lamb, which I don't 'low is goin' to make him better very soon. Now what we thought 'bout doin' was to get you to look out for him, an' let us pay in trade. I sell papers, an' Carrots blacks boots. If you'll 'gree to fix Ikey up as he ought ter be, we'll come here every mornin' till the bill's paid."

"Where is the boy?" the doctor asked, looking amused rather than grave.

"Down where we live."

"Give me the address, and I will call there to-morrow morning."

"Oh, you mustn't do that!" Carrots cried, in alarm. "If you should go there in broad daylight and s.h.i.+n over that fence, the folks in the shop would know jest where we live!"

The doctor was at a loss to understand the meaning of this remark, and Teddy explained by saying:

"You see, we've got a couple of boxes down here back of a store, an' the folks who own 'em don't know anything 'bout our livin' there. We can't go in till after dark, when the shop's shut up, an' have to come out in the mornin' before it's open."

"I understand," the gentleman replied, with a smile. "Then it will be necessary to bring the boy here."

"Couldn't you fix him to-night?" Carrots asked.

"I fancy so, unless there should be a call from some patient."

"I s'pose we can get him over the fence; but it'll hurt him a good bit,"

Teddy said, musingly.

"We can rig that all right," Carrots replied, carelessly. "If he's goin'

to have his leg done up, he's got to come out, an' we can't help it if it does hurt him;" and then turning to the doctor, he asked, eagerly, "Say, how much you goin' to charge for doin' that?"

"What should you think it would be worth, or, in other words, how many s.h.i.+nes would you give me? We won't say anything about the newspapers, because I already have a young man who serves me with them."

"We'll try to come to your terms if we can," Carrots replied, "an'

you're the one that ought ter set the figger."

"What should you think would be a good price, if you were going to pay money?"

Carrots hesitated, looked around at Teddy, then again at the doctor, and finally said:

"I reckon I'd be willin' to go as high as twenty-five cents if he was fixed up in good shape, 'cause I know he'll pay it back jest as soon as he gets to work. Course he can't do anything now."

"Very well, bring your friend here whenever you please, and when I chance to be where you are working, I will call on you for one of the s.h.i.+nes."

Then the gentleman took up the book he had been reading, as a sign that there was no need to prolong the interview, and the boys went at full speed after the invalid.

On being told that he would receive attention from a regular doctor, Ikey announced his willingness to climb over the fence a dozen times if it should be necessary, and without delay the journey was begun.

Fortunately the physician was still at home when they returned. He examined the injured member, took something from his pocket which the others could not see at first, and, before the invalid was aware of his purpose, had pa.s.sed the keen blade of the lancet through the swelling.

Ikey felt faint with pain for an instant, and then looked wonderfully relieved, as the doctor said, soothingly:

"There, my boy, you will be all right in a few days. I will bandage it, and you must be careful not to catch cold."

Carrots watched the operation intently, and when the physician intimated that his services were at an end, he drew a long breath of relief as he said:

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BOYS AT THE DOCTOR'S DOOR.]

"By jiminy! If I could earn twenty-five cents as quick as that, it wouldn't take Teddy an' me long to buy that stand!"

"You see, my boy, that medical men have to charge a very large amount of money for their services because it takes them so long to learn the business. Of course you would think I should get rich very rapidly if I had many such customers at twenty-five cents; but you can see that they are scarce to-night."

"That's a fact," Carrots replied, thoughtfully, as if this phase of the case was something which he had not previously understood, and after gravely a.s.suring the gentleman that "his face was good for a s.h.i.+ne any time," Master Williams led the way out of the house.

"How do you feel, old man?" Teddy asked, when they were on the sidewalk.

"He hurt me a good bit with his knife; but jest as soon's that was over, it seemed like as if the pain had all gone. I reckon I'll get well now, eh?"

"If you don't, there won't be any sense in puttin' out twenty-five cents ag'in on you," Carrots said, as if he should consider a continuation of Ikey's illness as a personal affront.