"In Brooklyn? I thought you said he was hurt." "Well, I guess he is, fer he's bound t' fight wid Mike when he finds out he's been fooled, an' Mike's liable t' hurt him." "But what for? Why should he be in Brooklyn? And why have you brought me here?" "Jimmy's in Brooklyn t' git him outer de way," explained Bulldog, with an ugly leer, "an' youse is here t' answer me some questions. Now, den, kid, I wants t' know where youse run away from home, who youse be, an' where youse lives. I'm goin' t' take youse back an' git de reward. Now youse can't fool me, an' if youse tries, it'll be bad fer yer. Come now, own up. Didn't youse run away from home? Answer me or I'll punch ye till yer does!" and Bulldog threateningly shook his fist in Dick's face. [Illustration: "Didn't youse run away from home?" _Page_ 137] CHAPTER XIX JIMMY TO THE RESCUE When Jimmy started for the room, late that afternoon, after having met Dick and arranging to go to supper with him, he was accosted, just before he reached the lodging-house, by Mike Conroy. Now, though Jimmy suspected Mike of having robbed him, and though he considered him his enemy, Jimmy was a whole-souled, good-hearted lad, not long holding enmity against any one. So, when Mike greeted him pleasantly enough, Jimmy responded in kind. "Heard youse was lookin' fer a news-stand t' buy," said Mike. "We was," replied Jimmy, "but it was too steep for us." "I know a feller what's got one t' sell cheap." "Where?" "Over in Brooklyn. "I don't believe we'd like to go to Brooklyn. New York is the best place for a newspaper stand. You can make more money here." "No, I mean de feller what owns it lives in Brooklyn. De stand is in New York, close t' de elevated." "How much does he want for it?" "About seventy-five dollars." This was so near the figure that he and Dick could command that Jimmy was at once interested. "What's the man's address?" he asked. "I'll take youse t' him," volunteered Mike. "He said he'd pay me a commission if I brought him a customer, an' I'll bring youse." "All right. I'll go. But I must leave word for Dick where I'm gone." "Oh, youse needn't bodder about dat. We'll soon be back," said Mike quickly. "Come on." So, thinking he would return almost as soon as his partner reached the room, Jimmy went away with Mike. They crossed the bridge in the cars, Mike generously paying the fares, and, once on the Brooklyn side, Mike led the way to a trolley. They rode for some time, and finally Jimmy exclaimed: "I thought you said it was only a little ways. We're out in the country now." "We're most there," declared Mike quickly. "It's only a few minutes now," and he began to talk rapidly, telling Jimmy a number of stories of New York life, and so keeping his companion interested to that extent that Jimmy did not notice how far they had come. "We'll git out here," said Mike, at length.