"To de lodgin'-house. I knows a feller what's got a room dere, an' maybe he'll let ye stay in it t'-day when he's out sellin' papes." "What do you do for a living, Jimmy?" "Me? Oh, I sell papes, too, when I got de chink t' buy 'em. I've got t' git a stake dis mornin' an' start in. But I'll take youse t' dat room first. Come on." Dick, walking with rather trembling footsteps, followed Jimmy, who led the way to the Newsboys' Lodging House. He hoped he would be in time to find Frank Merton, for he had decided to appeal to him to take Dick Box in for a few days. CHAPTER VI JIMMY ACTS AS NURSE Frank Merton was just coming down the steps of the Newsboys' Lodging House as Jimmy and Dick reached it. "Hello, Jimmy," greeted Frank. "Hello," was the answer. "Where youse goin'?" "To work. I've got a job doing some gardening for a man over in Brooklyn." "Dat's a good ways off." "Yes, but it will pay me better than selling papers. He is one of my regular customers, and when he asked me if I knew any one who would do some work around the garden I offered myself. But why aren't you out with your papers, Jimmy?" "No chink." "I'll lend you some money." "Never mind, Frank. I kin get staked easy enough. I'm goin' t' ask annudder favor of youse." "What is it?" "Here's a friend of mine, Dick Box, an' he ain't got no place t' stay. He's sick." "Dick Box? That's a queer name." "I give him de last name. Found him in me box," and Jimmy told the circumstances of discovering Dick. During this conversation Dick, who was growing quite pale, sat down on the steps of the building. "What do you want me to do, Jimmy?" asked Frank. "I t'ought mebby ye'd let him stay in yer room wid youse fer a day or so, till he's strong. Dat blow he got on his cocoanut sort of knocked him out." "Of course I will. You came at just a lucky time." "How's dat?" "Why, I'm going to stay over in Brooklyn for several days. The gentleman I am to work for is going to allow me to sleep in a spare room while I am weeding and fixing up his garden. I will not need my room, and you and Dick can use it just as well as not." "Say, dat's de stuff!" exclaimed Jimmy. "Dat's all to de merry. Kin he go right up?" "Yes, here is my key, and I'll explain to Mr. Snowden, the manager. You had better stay with Dick, Jimmy. He doesn't look well." "I guess he ain't. I'll look out fer him. Say, Frank, ye're a good feller. I'll pay youse back some day." "I'm not doing this for pay, Jimmy. Perhaps I will be in trouble myself, some time, and I will want help." "Well, if youse does, jest call on yours truly," said Jimmy earnestly. Matters were soon explained to the manager, who agreed to let Jimmy and Dick stay in Frank's room during the time he was away. At first Dick insisted on using what little money he had to hire a place, but Jimmy pointed out that, as a strange lad in a big city and sick as he was, he would need all the change he had.