Part 47 (1/2)

”Samuel, come in here and h.e.l.lup your fadder and mudder!”

The ”puller-in” had been watching proceedings from outside of the store, and now he came running in. He was a big, muscular fellow, and not above acting roughly when the occasion demanded.

”See here, what do you mean by striking my mother?” he cried out, boldly.

”Do you want to get yourself locked up?”

Instead of replying to this speech, Ralph backed toward the rear of the clothing establishment. He had no desire to enter into a fight on the premises. Now he had his clothing, he wished to get out as quickly as possible.

”Sthop! sthop!” screamed the old Jew. ”Vere vos you going?”

Still Ralph returned no reply. The way to the front was blocked. But a rear door, leading to a small yard, was open, and toward this he ran.

”He's goin' out of der pack!” cried the woman. ”Sthop him, Isaac!”

”Run, Samuel!” shrieked Isaac, and the son darted forward, but too late to stop Ralph in making his exit.

Ralph found the yard both small and exceedingly dirty. Beyond was another yard, and, looking over the fence, the boy saw an open hallway leading to a street.

Without hesitation, for Samuel was close at his heels, Ralph vaulted over the fence. Before the young Jew could follow, he was inside of the hallway.

A minute later he was in the next street, and running through the crowd toward the end of the block. He did not cease his rapid pace until the neighborhood was left a good distance behind.

”Well, that's the most trying experience I've had yet,” he murmured to himself, as he at last dropped into a slow walk to catch his breath. ”Those people are not thieves, but they are next door to it.”

Ralph was so disgusted with the Bowery--which, in reality, has many nice places of business in it--that he left the street at the next corner.

At nine o'clock he found himself in the vicinity of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here he came across a cheap but neat-looking hotel. He entered and engaged a room for himself alone on the top floor for fifty cents, and soon after retired and slept soundly until morning.

The boy was on the streets again long before the time appointed for his next call at Horace Kelsey's offices. Having nothing to do, he mounted to the bridge, and took a walk across to Brooklyn and return. This gave him a splendid view of both cities, and afforded him a means of enjoyment until it was time to make the call.

He had brushed himself up to the last degree, and invested in another s.h.i.+ne for his shoes, and a clean collar and tie, so now, even if his clothing was rather worn and torn in one or two places, he nevertheless looked quite respectable.

”He is in,” said the clerk, when Ralph entered the offices, and the next moment Horace Kelsey came forward and shook him by the hand.

”This is an unexpected pleasure,” said the insurance agent. ”Step into my private office,” and he led the way, showed Ralph to a seat, and closed the door. ”My clerk told me of your calling yesterday.”

”This is a totally unexpected trip, Mr. Kelsey,” returned Ralph, by way of apologizing for his appearance. ”When I started, I had no idea I would end up in New York.”

”Indeed!” and the gentleman looked his curiosity.

”I've got rather a long story to tell,” went on Ralph.

”Yes? Then let me hear it at once. I will be at leisure for the next hour.”

It was rather awkward for Ralph to start, but it was not long before he was deep in the recital of his adventures and the great wrong that had been done to him. Horace Kelsey listened with scarcely a word of comment until he finished.

”Well, Ralph, if I did not know you to be an honest boy, I would not believe it,” he exclaimed, at last.