After Fagin learned that he was causing Gene and Bill so much trouble he doubled his efforts to persecute them. "They're afraid to pass by the place any more," he said. "If they're tryin' to do good, why don't they come in and talk to us? I guess Gene can't leave his girl long enough. "Say, kid, come here," he called to Jimmie. "Why don't Morton come down here and try to convert us? Does he think we're so good we don't need it?" "Der yer want him ter come?" asked Jimmie. "Sure I want him, but he won't come; he's scart of the cars." Thirty minutes later, Jimmie rushed into Fagin's. There were ten or twenty men at the bar and Jimmie called out so every one could hear, "Say, Fagin, Mr. Morton said he'd come ter-night at eight er-clock an' hold a meetin' in yer saloon if you'll promise ter sell no booze from eight ter nine. Will yer do it?" "Be game, Fagin, be game!" cried several voices. "Don't let him bluff you." Fagin hesitated a moment. "You're yellow, Fagin. I heard yer ask the kid why he didn't come and now yer afraid he will come." "Be game, old man; we'll all come to the meeting," said another. After much good-natured talk of this kind, Fagin turned to Jimmie and said, "Tell 'em to come, kid, and we'll give 'em the warmest time they've had in months." CHAPTER XIII _"Fagin's Meetin'"_ At eight o'clock Fagin's big bar-room was filled with people. The crowd was mostly made up of men, although several women had ventured in to see the fun. At the bar men were standing three deep. Mike and Fagin were both working hard, but were unable to wait upon the crowd. "Here they come," cried some one at the door. In a moment every one was quiet and still, as Morton and his workers filed into the place. Fagin's place was known as a free and easy. In the rear of the room was a platform upon which stood several chairs, a table and an old grand piano. "Go back to the platform," said Fagin. Jimmie, Floe, Gene Dibble, Bill Cook, Mrs. Cook and Morton stepped upon the platform. Floe went to the piano and started to play the old song, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." Without an invitation nearly every one joined in the singing and Morton was pleased. As the song ended about twenty strong voices started to clap their hands and sing: "Monday I got awful drunk, Tuesday I got sober, Wednesday night I stayed at home To think the matter over. Thursday I went out again, Friday I took more, And Saturday night they found me tight On Fagin's cellar door." They repeated it three times, making more noise each time. Just as they stopped, Floe and Gene started to sing: "On Sunday I am happy, on Monday full of joy, On Tuesday I've a peace, the devil can't destroy. On Wednesday and on Thursday I'm walking in the light, Friday 'tis a Heaven below, the same on Saturday night." Without a stop they ran into Doane's greatest song, "Hide Me, O My Saviour, Hide Me."