He had had an example of Andy's notions of honesty, and it spoke volumes
for Andy's influence on him that he did not propose to let his "pardner"
know how he had obtained the letter.
"I'll bet a quarter," said Pete to himself, as he fell back to where he
knew Andy would be, "that he'd be jest fool ernough ter give the chump
the letter back ag'in."
When he was where he could beckon Andy he did so, and the latter
hastened up to him.
"Here's a letter," explained Pete. "He dropped it. Mebbe it has
somethin' in ter tell yer what yer want ter know."
"Dropped it?" said Andy, taking the letter doubtfully, but not
suspecting the way in which it had been obtained.
"Ya-as, an' I picked it up," replied Pete, unblushingly. "Go on an' read
it, why don't yer?"
It seemed to Andy that it would be no more than fair to read it under
the circumstances, and he opened it and did so. It was without
signature, and read as follows:
"Gone with Uncle Mike! Watch the Mirror."
Andy's disappointment at the contents of the letter was plainly shown on
his face.
"What's the matter?" asked Pete, curiously.
"I can't understand it," answered Andy.
"Can't yer read writin'?" was Pete's surprised inquiry.
"Of course I can," replied Andy; "but I can't make anything out of
this."
"What does it say?" asked Pete.
They were walking along as they talked, and Pete constantly kept his eye
on Mr. Roberts.
Andy read the letter to him.
"Lay low!" exclaimed Pete, suddenly, pulling Andy around a corner. "He's
missed the letter. He'll be back ter hunt fer it."
"I'll stay here," said Andy. "You keep your eye on him."
Pete went out to Broadway again, and Andy saw him disappear hastily
around the corner.
He knew by that that his man could not be approaching, so he peered
around the corner and saw Pete on the edge of the sidewalk looking every
way. Mr. Roberts was nowhere in sight.
Pete hunted and Andy hunted, but neither could obtain a glimpse of him,
and Andy was in the depths of despair.
"It's no use," said Andy, at last; "he's gone, and my chance has gone
with him."
Pete looked sympathetic and downcast.
"I s'pose it's my fault," he said, dismally.
"No, it's my fault," said Andy. "I should have kept my eye on him all
the time."
"Yer've got the letter," reminded Pete, by way of consolation.
"What's the use of the letter when I can't understand it?" replied Andy.
"What don't yer understand?" asked Pete.
"Any of it 'What does 'Gone with Uncle Mike' mean? What does 'Watch the
Mirror' mean?"
"Huh!" said Pete. "I can tell yer that much."
"You can."
"Yer bet I can. Come on, an' I'll show yer."
Andy looked suspicious and doubtful. How could Pete be so knowing as
that? If he could not understand the letter, how could Pete?
Pete, however, led him without a word, but with a wonderfully knowing
air, along several blocks, and finally stopped at a news stand and
looked it over.
"That the last Mirror, boss?" he asked, of the man in charge.
"Yep."
"Give it ter me?"