"Say, I wonder who dat well-dressed guy was wid Bricks?" went on Mike.
"I seen him t'-day sellin' papes wid him."
"I don't know. Maybe Dutchy does."
"How would he know?"
"I seen Jimmy talkin' t' him kinder serious jest as we come in
t'-night."
"Where does Dutchy hang out?"
"Down on Mulberry Street. Why?"
"Let's find him an' see if he knows anyt'ing about de new kid wid
Bricks," proposed Bulldog. "Dere's somethin' funny about him. Why,
he's a reg'lar swell, an' travelin' wid Jimmy looks queer."
"What do youse t'ink it is?"
"I've got a suspicion he might have runned away from home t' see life
in a great city as it's played in de theaters."
"Well, suppose he has?"
"Maybe we kin pipe his folks off as t' where he is an' git a reward."
"Dat's so! Bully fer you, Bulldog. Come on, we'll see if we can spot
Dutchy."
The two plotters found the German newsboy after a little search.
Bulldog had agreed to do the talking.
"Hello, Dutchy," he greeted. "Say, don't youse want a cigarette?"
"Sure. I ain't had no luck dese days, und I ain't got no money fer
smokes."
"Well, here's a couple," went on Bulldog, for he wanted to get on the
right side of the other lad.
"Ach! Now I feels petter alretty yet," announced Sam as he lighted the
cigarette, for he, like nearly all the other newsboys, was addicted to
smoking.
"I saw Jimmy Small an' his new partner t'-night," went on Bulldog.
"It's a wonder dat new kid don't go back home."
"Home? Did youse know vere his home vos?" asked the German, thinking
from Bulldog's remark that he must know something of Dick.
"Well, maybe I do. What do youse know about him?"
"Vos dere a rewards for him in de baber?" asked Sam in his turn. "I
vos lookin' fer it, but I don't see any."
"I don't know; but what did you hear about him? He's got a swell home,
I understand, an' his dad wants him t' come back."
"I knowed he vould!" exclaimed Sam. "Tell me, vere is his home? I
goes me und dells Jimmy. He is goin' to divide der rewards mit me."
"Where'd he pick up de kid?" asked Bulldog, determined to get all the
information he could without disclosing the fact that he knew nothing
of Dick.
The German lad, who had been deceived by Bulldog's manner, readily told
all he knew of Dick, and how he had been found. Bulldog and his crony
exchanged glances.
"Now tells me vere his home is und I tells it t' Jimmy," went on Sam.
"We must hurry t' git der rewards pefore der bolice."
"Aw, I don't know anyt'ing about him," replied Bulldog with a laugh.
"I was only foolin' youse."
"Foolin'! So? Dot's a yoke, hey? Vell, I'm sorry I told you
anydings, und I'll tells Jimmy t' be on der lookouts by you both
alretty yet."
"Oh, dat's all right," spoke Bulldog quickly, for he did not want Jimmy
to learn he had been making inquiries concerning Dick. "I didn't t'ink
you'd mind, Dutchy. Here, have some more cigarettes, an' t'-morrow
night we'll take youse t' a show."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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