The Newsboy Partners: or, Who Was Dick Box?. Webster Frank V.
came back in a few seconds with a soft hat and placed it on Dick's head. As he did so he uttered a cry of astonishment.
"What's the matter?" asked Dick.
"Say, no wonder yer mind went back on youse. Dere's a lump as big as a baseball on de back of yer cocoanut. Dat's what made youse fergit yer name, I guess."
Dick felt of the back of his head. Sure enough there was a large swelling there, and it was very painful.
"Who done it?" asked Jimmy.
"I can't remember."
"Dat's funny. If some bloke fetched me a swipe like dat you bet I'd remember it. But come on, we'd better be makin' tracks outer her, 'fore de watchman spots us. I don't want him t' disturb me bed. I might need it ag'in."
"Suppose we go and get some breakfast?" proposed Dick.
"I'm broke, I told youse."
"But I have money enough for both of us."
"Goin' t' stand treat?"
"Why not? It would be a small return for what you did for me."
"Aw, dat's nuttin'. Well, den, come on. I knows a good joint where it's cheap. Have a cigarette?"
It was all the newsboy had to offer, and he meant it well, as he held out the box to Dick.
"No, thank you," replied the other lad. "I don't smoke."
"I'll learn ye," proposed Jimmy generously, "It's easy, an' it's lots of sport."
"I don't think I care for it."
"I didn't needer, first. Made me sick. But I got used to it. Well, I'll light up."
"Before breakfast?"
"Sure. Den I won't be so hungry."
"Oh, don't be afraid of your appetite. I guess I have enough for breakfast for the both of us."
"Dat's all right," Jimmy assured him, "but if dat's all ye got, ye can't live long on it. What youse goin' t' do when dat's gone?"
"That's so; I hadn't thought of it. I wonder what I am going to do? It's queer, but I can't seem to remember anything."
"I guess it is queer. But say, don't worry. I'll look after youse until yer memory comes back."
"Suppose it never comes back?"
Dick looked worried. He was trying to recall something about himself, but it was hard work. Try as he did to think, he could recollect nothing but that his name was Dick.
"Well, no use lookin' fer trouble," remarked Jimmy. "Let's go eat, an' den we'll see what's best t' be done."
The two boys, so strangely contrasted, one evidently from a rich home, to judge by his clothes and manner, the other a gamin of the streets, passed out of the factory yard. As they went the watchman saw them.
"Here!" he called. "Where you fellows going?"
"We're goin' out," replied Jimmy. "Why, did youse want us?"
"You young rascals! You'd better go!" cried the man, shaking his first at them. "If I catch you trying to sneak in here again after wood, I'll set the police after you."
"He don't know we've been in dere all night," said Jimmy with a chuckle to his companion. "Oh, I fooled him all right."
Jimmy led the way to a cheap restaurant he knew of, and though Dick shrank back a little, at the sight of the not very clean place, he went in, for he was very hungry. The two boys made a substantial meal, and Dick paid for it.
"How do you feel now?" asked Jimmy.
"A little better, but I'm rather weak; as if I'd been sick for quite a while."
"Youse don't look very well. What youse needs is a place where ye kin lay down. I know what t' do. Come along."
"Where?"
"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.
"All right," agreed Dick wearily, for his head was aching greatly.
Frank and Jimmy put him in bed, after he had undressed, and then Frank had to go.
"Perhaps I'd better leave you some money," proposed Frank to Jimmy. "You might have to call a doctor."
"Say, youse must be rich," spoke Jimmy.
"No, but I have a few dollars saved up. You are welcome to some if you need it for Dick."
"Oh, I kin earn plenty, if I once git staked t' some coin fer papes," announced the young newsboy.
"Then let me stake you."
"I have some money left," murmured Dick. "Take that, Jimmy, and buy your papers. I'll not need it."
"Youse