Paul the Peddler Part 6

"We'll borrow without leave."

"How'll we do it?"

"I'll tell you," said Mike.

He proceeded to unfold his plan, which was briefly this. The two were to saunter up to where Paul was standing; and remain until the group, if there were any around him should be dispersed. Then one was to pull his hat over his eyes, while the other would s.n.a.t.c.h the basket containing his prize packages, and run down Liberty street, never stopping until he landed in a certain alley known to both boys. The other would run in a different direction, and both would meet as soon as practicable for the division of the spoils. It was yet so early that Paul could not have sold many from his stock. As each contained a prize, varying from one penny to ten, they would probably realize enough to buy a good breakfast, besides the candy contained in the packages. More money might be obtained by selling packages, but there was risk in this. Besides, it would take time, and they decided that a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.

"That's a good idea," said Jim, approvingly. "Who'll knock his hat over his head?"

"You can," said Mike, "and I'll grab the basket." But to this Jim demurred, for two reasons: first, he was rather afraid of Paul, whose strength of arm he had tested on a previous occasion; and, again, he was afraid that if Mike got off with the basket he would appropriate the lion's share.

"I'll grab the basket," he said.

"What for?" said Mike, suspiciously, for he, too, felt some distrust of his confederate.

"You're stronger'n I am, Mike," said Jim. "Maybe he'd turn on me, and I can't fight him as well as you."

"That's so," said Mike, who had rather a high idea of his own prowess, and felt pleased with the compliment. "I'm a match for him."

"Of course you be," said Jim, artfully, "and he knows it."

"Of course he does," said Mike, boastfully. "I can lick him with one hand."

Jim had serious doubts of this, but he had his reasons for concurring in Mike's estimate of his own powers.

"We'd better start now," said Jim. "I'm awful hungry."

"Come along, then."

They walked up Liberty street, as far as Na.s.sau. On reaching the corner they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place. It was rather a public place for an a.s.sault, and both boys would have hesitated had they not been incited by a double motive--the desire of gain and a feeling of hostility.

They sauntered along, and Mike pressed in close by Paul.

"What do you want?" asked Paul, not liking the vicinity.

"What's that to you?" demanded Mike.

"Quit crowdin' me."

"I ain't crowdin'. I've got as much right to be here as you."

"Here's your prize packages!" exclaimed Paul, in a businesslike tone.

"Maybe I'll buy one if you'll give me credit till to-morrow," said Mike.

"Your credit isn't good with me," said Paul. "You must pay cash down."

"Then you won't trust me?" said Mike, pressing a little closer.

"No, I won't," said Paul, decidedly.

"Then, take that, you spalpeen!" said Mike, suddenly pulling Paul's hat over his eyes.

At the same time Jim, to whom he had tipped a wink, s.n.a.t.c.hed the basket, which Paul held loosely in his hand, and disappeared round the corner.

The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Paul was at first bewildered. But he quickly recovered his presence of mind, and saw into the trick. He raised his hat, and darted in pursuit of Mike, not knowing in what direction his basket had gone.

"That's a mean trick!" he exclaimed, indignantly. "Give me back my basket, you thief!"

"I ain't got no basket," said Mike, facing round.

"Then you know where it is."

"I don't know nothin' of your basket."

"You pulled my hat over my eyes on purpose to steal my basket."

"No, I didn't. You insulted me, that's why I did it."

"Tell me where my basket is, or I'll lick you," said Paul, incensed.

"I ain't nothin' to do with your basket."

"Take that, then, for pulling my hat over my eyes," and Paul, suiting the action to the word, dealt Mike a staggering blow in the face.

"I'll murder you!" shouted Mike, furiously, dashing at Paul with a blow which might have leveled him, if he had not fended it off.

Paul was not quarrelsome, but he knew how to fight, and he was prepared now to fight in earnest, indignant as he was at the robbery which entailed upon him a loss he could ill sustain.

"I'll give you all you want," he said, resolutely, eyeing Mike warily, and watching a chance to give him another blow.

The contest was brief, being terminated by the sudden and unwelcome arrival of a policeman.

"What's this?" he asked authoritatively, surveying the combatants; Paul, with his flushed face, and Mike, whose nose was bleeding freely from a successful blow of his adversary.

"He pitched into me for nothin'," said Mike, glaring at Paul, and rubbing his b.l.o.o.d.y nose on the sleeve of his ragged coat.

"That isn't true," said Paul, excitedly. "He came up while I was selling prize packages of candy in front of the post office, and pulled my hat over my eyes, while another boy grabbed my basket."

"You lie!" said Mike. "I don't know nothin' of your basket."

"Why did you pull his hat over his eyes?" asked the policeman.

"Because he insulted me."

"How did he insult you?"

"He wouldn't trust me till to-morrow."