"Good. We'll divide. We can get a breakfast at Brady's Free Lunch Saloon. Take six cents of it. I ain't going to get up yet." "All right," said the boy. "You must look sharp and pick up some money before night, or we shall go to bed hungry. Do you hear?" "Yes, Jack." "When Marlowe and I get hold of that gold and plate in Madison avenue we'll have a grand blow-out. You remember what Marlowe told you last night?" "About the boy that keeps the necktie stand near Dey street?" "Yes." "I am to find out all I can about him." "Yes. See if you can find out if he has any friends out of the city." Julius nodded. "We want to have the coast clear, so that we can break in next Monday night. The sooner the better. I'm dead broke and so is Marlowe, but I guess we can stand it till then." "All right." Jack Morgan turned over and composed himself to sleep again. He had said all he thought necessary, and had no pressing business to call him up. Julius opened the door and went out, down the rickety stairs and out through a narrow covered alleyway to the street, for the room which Jack Morgan and he occupied was in a rear tenement house. Several dirty and unsavory-looking children--they could not well be otherwise in such a locality--barefooted and bareheaded, were playing in the court. Julius passed them by, and sauntered along toward the City Hall Park. He met several acquaintances, newsboys and bootblacks, the former crying the news, the latter either already employed or looking for a job. "Where are you goin', Julius?" asked a bootblack of his acquaintance. "Goin' to get breakfast." "Got any stamps?" "Sixpence." "You can't get a square meal for that." "I'm goin' to 'free-lunch places.'" "That's good if you're hard up. What are you doin' now?" "Nothin' much." "Why don't you black boots?" "Haven't got any box or brush." "You can borrow mine, if you'll give me half you make." "What are you goin' to do?" "I'll try sellin' papers for a change." "I'll do it," said Julius, promptly, for he saw that the arrangement would, under the circumstances, be a good one for him. "Where will I see you to-night?" "I'll be here at six o'clock." "All right. Hand over your box." So the business arrangement was concluded--an arrangement not uncommon among street professionals. It is an illustration, on a small scale, of the advantage of capital. The lucky possessor of two or three extra blacking-boxes has it in his power to derive quite a revenue--enormous, when the amount of his investment is considered. As a general thing, such contracts, however burdensome to one party, are faithfully kept. It might be supposed that boys of ordinary shrewdness would as soon as possible save up enough to buy a box and brush of their own; but as they only receive half profits, that is not easy, after defraying expenses of lodging and meals.