The Missing Tin Box: or, The Stolen Railroad Bonds. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ length Hardwick paused and glanced behind him. As soon as he saw the movement the boy stepped behind a bill-board out of sight.

      Presently Hardwick continued on his way, walking faster than ever. The youth increased his speed.

      "Hi! look sharp there!"

      Hal was just about to cross a street when he almost ran into a heavy truck. He stepped back, and allowed the truck to pass. When he reached the opposite curb Hardwick had disappeared.

      "He must have gone on straight ahead," thought the youth. "I will soon catch up to him again."

      But though he continued onward for more than a block, he saw nothing of the book-keeper.

      He looked up and down the side streets, and tried to peep into the curtained windows of several saloons that were close at hand.

      "He must have gone in somewhere, that's certain," said Hal to himself. "I wonder if he discovered that I was following him?"

      This last thought disturbed the youth not a little. His experience with Hardwick in the office had convinced him that the book-keeper was an evil man when aroused.

      Slowly he retraced his steps, not certain if he could find his way back to Park Row, a spot he had got to know fairly well since his coming to the metropolis.

      He was just passing a place where a new building was in the course of construction when a peculiar noise to one side of him attracted his attention. By instinct he jumped toward the gutter. The next instant a mass of bricks came tumbling down. One struck him on the head, and this knocked him insensible.

      CHAPTER VII.

      HAL DETERMINES TO INVESTIGATE

      When Hal came to his senses he found himself in the arms of a boy slightly taller than himself, who was doing all in his power to restore consciousness by the application of snow to Hal's forehead.

      "What – what – " he began.

      "Good! yer come around at last, have yer?" cried the boy. "Blessed if I didn't think yer was a goner."

      Hal put his hand up to his head.

      "Where am I?" he asked, faintly.

      "Yer all right; don't worry," replied the tall boy. "Don't yer remember me?"

      Hal pulled himself together, and looked at the speaker.

      "Jack McCabe!" he cried.

      "Yer struck it fust clip. Say, wot was der matter wid yer? Yer couldn't have been froze, coz it wasn't cold enough."

      "I was struck on the head."

      "Gee crickety! Who struck yer?"

      "I – I – nobody, I think. It was some bricks from that building."

      "Oh, dat's it. How do yer feel now?"

      "Awfully light-headed," responded Hal, telling the exact truth.

      "Kin yer walk about a block? I only live jest around dat corner."

      Hal started at these words.

      "You do?"

      "Yes."

      "Tell me, is your father janitor of a building down in Wall Street?"

      "O' course not. Didn't I tell yer we lived here?"

      Hal looked relieved.

      "What has that got to do with it?" he asked, curiously.

      "Why, dem janitors all lives in der buildin's da takes care of," explained Jack.

      "The reason I ask is because there is a Daniel McCabe janitor of the building I work in."

      "I t'ink dat's me uncle. Better now?"

      Hal took a deep breath and straightened up.

      "Yes, a good deal better."

      "Yer got a lump on yer forehead as big as an egg."

      "It feels twice that size to me," laughed Hal. "Jack, you have done me a good turn I won't forget in a hurry."

      The street boy blushed.

      "Ah! go on, dat wasn't nuthin'," he replied. "I kinder like you, tell der truth."

      "And I like you, Jack," replied Hal, giving his hand a tight squeeze.

      "Did yer git dat job?"

      "Yes."

      "How much?"

      "What do you mean?"

      "Wot do da pay yer!"

      "Seven dollars a week."

      Jack McCabe's eyes opened like saucers.

      "Yer foolin'."

      "It's true, Jack."

      "Gee crickety! but yer struck a snap. Say, if dere's enny more o' dem jobs layin' around put in a word fer me, will yer."

      "I certainly shall," replied Hal.

      "I only git t'ree dollars where I am, an' have ter work like a horse. I've jest been home ter grub, an' now I've got ter go back an' work till nine o'clock."

      "Then don't let me keep you," returned Hal, "or you may be late."

      "I've got ten minutes yet."

      "By the way, how long were you with me before I came to?"

      "About ten minutes. I dragged yer inter der buildin', an' I was jest gittin' ready ter call der cop an' have yer tuk to der hospital when yer give a gulp an' opened yer eyes."

      "While you were sitting here did you notice anybody leave the building?"

      Jack scratched his head.

      "I t'ink I did."

      "What kind of a person was it?"

      "A man."

      "Heavy sort of a chap?"

      "I t'ink he was. I didn't pay much attention ter him on account o' havin' you on my hands."

      "Where did the man come from?"

      "Der back o' der building."

      "You didn't notice which way he went?"

      "Up toward der East River."

      "That way?"

      "Yes."

      "Thank you. Don't let me keep you any longer. Maybe I'll be up to see you soon."

      "Glad ter have yer, 'specially if ye git dat seven dollar job fer me."

      And with a broad laugh Jack McCabe hurried on.

      Hal СКАЧАТЬ