Part 53 (2/2)
”No, I will stay here,” returned Ralph.
”I'll git a bit of grub an' den come out ag'in,” said Mickety.
He ran off, leaving Ralph alone. The crowd of street children looked at the country boy, but they had seen him talking to Mickety, with whom they were well acquainted, and they did not offer to ask Ralph any questions or tease him, as they might an utter stranger.
In less than a quarter of an hour the bootblack was back, munching the last of a big doughnut.
”Ain't come yet?”
”Not yet, Mickety.”
”Kin I stay an' help yer watch fer him?”
”If you wish, certainly.”
”He may try to do yer ag'in, an' I kin call a cop.”
”That is so. Yes, stay with me, and I will pay you for your trouble.”
”Huh! don't want no pay, Mr. ---- Yer didn't tell me yer name.”
”Ralph Nelson.”
”I ain't askin' fer no pay, Mr. Nelson. Dis sort of a job is nuthin' but fun.”
”You may be of valuable a.s.sistance to me,” went on Ralph. ”I may have that man arrested. You can prove that he bound and gagged me, and locked me up in the closet.”
”Dat's so.”
”I want to find out what his object is. He may----”
Ralph broke off short and pointed across the street.
”Dat's him, true enough!” whispered Mickety, as Martin entered the tenement opposite. ”Wot yer goin' ter do now?”
”Wait till he comes out.”
This did not consume much time. In less than three minutes after he had entered the building, Martin came running out. He looked greatly disturbed and hurried down the street as fast as his long legs would carry him.
”Dere he goes!” exclaimed Mickety, in ill-suppressed excitement.
”Come on,” returned Ralph. ”He must not get out of our sight.”
He started off, with the bootblack at his side. He looked at Mickety and saw that the little fellow's head was about the size of his own, and that he wore a large-brimmed soft hat.
”Let us trade hats for a while, Mickety. I can pull that down over my face.”
The exchange was quickly effected. With the soft hat bent down Ralph knew he would stand a much greater chance of escaping detection at the hands of Martin than before.
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