Part 6 (2/2)

”Yes,” said d.i.c.k, ”who'd ever have thought as I should have turned into a swell?”

They had now got out on Broadway, and were slowly walking along the west side by the Park, when who should d.i.c.k see in front of him, but Johnny Nolan?

Instantly d.i.c.k was seized with a fancy for witnessing Johnny's amazement at his change in appearance. He stole up behind him, and struck him on the back.

”Hallo, Johnny, how many s.h.i.+nes have you had?”

Johnny turned round expecting to see d.i.c.k, whose voice he recognized, but his astonished eyes rested on a nicely dressed boy (the hat alone excepted) who looked indeed like d.i.c.k, but so transformed in dress that it was difficult to be sure of his ident.i.ty.

”What luck, Johnny?” repeated d.i.c.k.

Johnny surveyed him from head to foot in great bewilderment.

”Who be you?” he said.

”Well, that's a good one,” laughed d.i.c.k; ”so you don't know d.i.c.k?”

”Where'd you get all them clothes?” asked Johnny. ”Have you been stealin'?”

”Say that again, and I'll lick you. No, I've lent my clothes to a young feller as was goin' to a party, and didn't have none fit to wear, and so I put on my second-best for a change.”

Without deigning any further explanation, d.i.c.k went off, followed by the astonished gaze of Johnny Nolan, who could not quite make up his mind whether the neat-looking boy he had been talking with was really Ragged d.i.c.k or not.

In order to reach Chatham Street it was necessary to cross Broadway.

This was easier proposed than done. There is always such a throng of omnibuses, drays, carriages, and vehicles of all kinds in the neighborhood of the Astor House, that the crossing is formidable to one who is not used to it. d.i.c.k made nothing of it, dodging in and out among the horses and wagons with perfect self-possession.

Reaching the opposite sidewalk, he looked back, and found that Frank had retreated in dismay, and that the width of the street was between them.

”Come across!” called out d.i.c.k.

”I don't see any chance,” said Frank, looking anxiously at the prospect before him. ”I'm afraid of being run over.”

”If you are, you can sue 'em for damages,” said d.i.c.k.

Finally Frank got safely over after several narrow escapes, as he considered them.

”Is it always so crowded?” he asked.

”A good deal worse sometimes,” said d.i.c.k. ”I knowed a young man once who waited six hours for a chance to cross, and at last got run over by an omnibus, leaving a widder and a large family of orphan children. His widder, a beautiful young woman, was obliged to start a peanut and apple stand. There she is now.”

”Where?”

d.i.c.k pointed to a hideous old woman, of large proportions, wearing a bonnet of immense size, who presided over an apple-stand close by.

Frank laughed.

”If that is the case,” he said, ”I think I will patronize her.”

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