The Newsboy Partners: or, Who Was Dick Box?. Webster Frank V.
can't tell about dat. But I kin double it in a little while, if business is good."
"You had better let me loan you some," proposed Frank.
"No. I'll take his," decided Jimmy. "If he hasn't any room rent t' pay he'll not need any chink right away, an' I'll have some by t'-night. Much obliged, Frank."
"You had better stay here with him to-night," suggested Frank. "The room is big enough for two, and you are welcome to use it."
"T'anks. Mebby I will. But ye'd better skip over t' Brooklyn now, or youse might lose yer job."
"That's so. Do you think he'll be all right?"
"I guess so. He looks pretty sick, though."
"Oh, I'll be all right in a little while," murmured Dick, but the sight of his pale face, with the long red cut on the forehead, did not seem to bear out his words.
However, as Frank could do no particular good, and as he knew he was needed in Brooklyn, he left, bidding the two boys good-by.
"You needn't stay, Jimmy," said Dick. "Take my money, go out, and buy some papers."
"All right. I'm only jest borrowin' it, ye know. I'll pay youse back t'-night."
"That's all right."
Dick spoke in a very faint voice. His face became paler than ever, and his breathing was so strange that Jimmy became alarmed.
"Maybe he's dyin'," he thought. "Guess I'll tell de manager."
The head of the lodging-house came in response to the summons of the newsboy and looked at Dick.
"He ought to have a doctor," Mr. Snowden said. "I'll call in the district doctor."
This was a physician, paid by the city, to look after the poor, and he soon came in and examined Dick.
"The boy is suffering from shock," he said. "He needs rest and quiet, and some simple medicine. He'll be all right in a day or so."
"Will his memory come back?" asked Jimmy.
"I think so – yes. It is only gone temporarily."
He left some medicine for Dick, after giving him the first dose.
"Now I am up against it," remarked Jimmy to the manager, as the physician went away.
"What's the matter?"
"Why, I've got t' stay an' take care of him, an' I don't see how I'm goin' t' sell me papes."
"Oh, that's it, eh? Well, don't let that worry you. I think he'll be all right for a while, and I'll look in every hour or so. You go ahead and sell your papers."
The manager was a kind-hearted man and did all he could to help the boys.
"Dat'll be de stuff!" exclaimed Jimmy. "I'll hustle out, an' git t' work. I'll be nurse t' him t'-night. He's a queer kid, an' I'd like t' find out who he is an' where he come from."
"Probably you will, when he gets better," said the manager. "But you'd better hurry out now, if you expect to sell any extras to-day."
Taking a dollar of Dick's money to buy papers with, Jimmy started off. It was a good day for news, there being a number of sensational happenings and every one seemed to want to read about them. Jimmy sold more papers than he had disposed of before in a long time.
"Guess Dick Box must have brought me luck back t' me," he thought. "All de same, I'd like t' git hold of Mike Conroy an' see if he robbed me."
But the bully kept out of Jimmy's way, or else the latter did not see the youth whom he suspected of picking his pocket.
At noon time, having made a dollar and seven cents profit, Jimmy got some dinner and then hurried to the lodging-house to inquire about Dick, as, already, he felt a strong liking for the boy whom he had befriended.
"He's sleeping quietly," said the manager. "I think he is better. Don't worry about him. I'll look after him the rest of the day and you can take charge at night."
The afternoon was always a good time for Jimmy, as the extras were out then and were in great demand. He took his place at his old corner, determined not to leave it, to give Bulldog or any other of the boys a chance to take it away from him. He made arrangements with a bootblack to go after another supply of papers for him, when he sold out, and thus was able to maintain his place.
Toward the close of the day Bulldog appeared with a big bundle of papers under his arm. He intended to establish himself at Broadway and Barclay Street, but, fortunately, a policeman happened to be standing there when he came up and he dared not drive Jimmy away with the officer looking on.
"Dis is de time I fooled youse!" exclaimed Jimmy, as he shook his fist at Bulldog, behind the policeman's back. "Youse dasn't bodder me now."
"Wait till I catch ye!" threatened Bulldog, as then he moved on up Broadway, calling:
"Wuxtry! Wuxtry!"
Jimmy was soon sold out, and, having made nearly two dollars that day, something very unusual for him, but due to the extraordinary demand for papers, he returned to the lodging-house.
"Well, how is he?" he asked the manager.
"A little better, I think. I was up a while ago and he was asking for you."
"Here's where I play bein' nurse," announced Jimmy with a smile.
He found Dick awake and feeling much better. His head no longer ached.
"Kin youse remember who ye be now?" asked Jimmy.
"Not in the least," replied Dick with a sad smile. "It is as much a mystery as ever."
CHAPTER VII
JIMMY CONSIDERS MATTERS
Jimmy was quite disappointed. He had expected that, when Dick felt better, his memory would return, so that the boy could tell something about himself. Now, evidently, this was not to be.
"How did you make out to-day?" asked the lad in bed.
"Fine! Crimps! But everybody on de street seemed t' want a paper. Have a cigarette? I bought a new pack. Blowed meself on account of me good luck."
"No, I don't smoke. I shouldn't think you would."
"Why not? All de fellers does. It's sporty. Say, here's yer dollar back."
"Don't you need it?"
"Naw. I got plenty now. I'll make more t'-morrow."
"Then keep it to pay for what you have done for me."
"Not much! What d' youse t'ink I am? I'm a friend of yourn, an' I'm takin' care of ye; see?
"Yes, but it costs money."
"Well, when I ain't got none I'll borrow some from youse. Now it's time fer yer medicine."
Dick took it, and soon afterward fell into a heavy doze. Jimmy went out, got some supper, and, returning, stretched out on the floor and was soon asleep.
Dick did not awaken until morning, and, when he saw the lad on the floor, he gave such an exclamation of surprise that Jimmy awoke.
"What's de matter?" he asked. "Feel worse?"
"No. But the idea of you sleeping on the floor, and me taking up the whole bed! It isn't right. Why didn't you wake me up and make me shove over?"
"Aw, I like sleepin' on de floor. It's like bein' in a hotel, after a night in me box. I'm all right. Feel hungry?"
"A little. I am much better than I was."
"T'ink of yer name yet?"
"No," and Dick shook his head, smiling a little sadly. "I can't seem to remember anything," he went on. "Perhaps, when this lump on my head goes down more, I can do better."
"Well, never mind," answered Jimmy cheerfully. "Youse kin have all de time youse wants."
"I wish I could get up, and help you," proposed Dick. "I think I am well enough."
"No, ye don't!" exclaimed Jimmy. "If youse gits up now youse'll have a perhaps, an' den where'll ye be?"
"A