Part 2 (1/2)

”The policemen must think differently,” he said at last, ”else they wouldn't be always trying to catch you.”

”Who cares for the bobbies?” Bill said contemptuously. ”I don't; and I don't want no more jaw with you about it. If yer don't likes it, yer leaves it. I didn't ask for yer company, did I? So now then.”

George had really taken a fancy to the boy, and moreover he saw that in the event of a quarrel his chance of finding a refuge for the night was small. In his sense of utter loneliness in the great city he was loath to break with the only acquaintance he had made.

”I didn't mean to offend you, Bill,” he said; ”only I was sorry to hear you say you took things. It seems to me you might get into trouble; and it would be better after all to work for a living.”

”What sort of work?” Bill said derisively. ”Who's agoing to give me work? Does yer think I have only got to walk into a shop and ask for 'ployment? They wouldn't want to know nothing about my character, I suppose? nor where I had worked before? nor where my feyther lived?

nor nothing? Oh, no, of course not! It's blooming easy to get work about here; only got to ax for it, that's all. Good wages and all found, that's your kind.”

”I don't suppose it's easy,” George said; ”but it seems to me people could get something to do if they tried.”

”Tried!” the boy said bitterly. ”Do yer think we don't try! Why, we are always trying to earn a copper or two. Why, we begins at three o'clock in the morning when the market-carts come in, and we goes on till they comes out of that there theater at night, just trying to pick up a copper. Sometimes one does and sometimes one doesn't. It's a good day, I tell you, when we have made a tanner by the end of it.

Don't tell me! And now as to this ere stable; yer means it?”

”Yes,” George said; ”certainly I mean it.”

”Wery well then, you be here at this corner at nine o'clock. I will go before that and square it with Ned. That's the chap I was speaking of.”

”I had better give you something to give him,” George said. ”Will a s.h.i.+lling do?”

”Yes, a bob will do for three or four nights. Are you going to trust me with it?”

”Of course I am,” George replied. ”I am sure you wouldn't be so mean as to do me out of it; besides, you told me that you never stole money and those sort of things.”

”It aint everyone as would trust me with a bob for all that,” Bill replied; ”and yer are running a risk, yer know, and I tells yer if yer goes on with that sort of game yer'll get took in rarely afore yer've done. Well, hand it over. I aint a-going to bilk yer.”

The Shadow spoke carelessly, but this proof of confidence on the part of his companion really touched him, and as he went off he said to himself, ”He aint a bad sort, that chap, though he is so precious green. I must look arter him a bit and see he don't get into no mischief.”

George, on his part, as he walked away down into the Strand again, felt that he had certainly run a risk in thus intrusting a tenth of his capital to his new acquaintance; but the boy's face and manner had attracted him, and he felt that, although the Shadow's notions of right and wrong might be of a confused nature, he meant to act straight toward him.

George pa.s.sed the intervening hours before the time named for his meeting in Covent Garden in staring into the shop windows in the Strand, and in wondering at the constant stream of vehicles and foot pa.s.sengers flowing steadily out westward. He was nearly knocked under the wheels of the vehicles a score of times from his ignorance as to the rule of the road, and at last he was so confused by the jostling and pus.h.i.+ng that he was glad to turn down a side street and to sit down for a time on a doorstep.

When nine o'clock approached he went into a baker's shop and bought a loaf, which would, he thought, do for supper and breakfast for himself and his companion. Having further invested threepence in cheese, he made his way up to the market.

The Shadow was standing at the corner whistling loudly.

”Oh, here yer be! That's all right; come along. I have squared Ned, and it's all right.”

He led the way down two or three streets and then stopped at a gateway.

”You stop here,” he said, ”and I will see as there aint no one but Ned about.”

He returned in a minute.

”It's all clear! Ned, he's a-rubbing down a hoss; he won't take no notice of yer as yer pa.s.s. He don't want to see yer, yer know, 'cause in case anyone comed and found yer up there he could swear he never saw yer go in, and didn't know nothing about yer. I will go with yer to the door, and then yer will see a ladder in the corner; if yer whip up that yer'll find it all right up there.”

”But you are coming too, aint you?” George asked.

”Oh, no, I aint a-coming. Yer don't want a chap like me up there. I might pick yer pocket, yer know; besides I aint your sort.”