Suddenly, therefore, Jurgis stopped. "Is it very far?"
he inquired.

"Not very," said the other. "Tired, are you, though?
Well, we'll ride -- whatcha say? Good! Call a cab!"

And then, gripping Jurgis tight with one hand, the
young fellow began searching his pockets with the other.
"You call, ole sport, an' I'll pay," he suggested. "How's
that, hey?"

And he pulled out from somewhere a big roll of bills.
It was more money than Jurgis had ever seen in his life
before, and he stared at it with startled eyes.

"Looks like a lot, hey?" said Master Freddie, fumbling
with it. "Fool you, though, ole chappie -- they're all
little ones! I'll be busted in one week more, sure thing --
word of honor. An' not a cent more till the first -- hic
-- guv'ner's orders -- hic -- not a cent, by Harry! Nuff
to set a feller crazy, it is. I sent him a cable this af'noon
-- thass one reason more why I'm goin' home. 'Hangin'
on the verge of starvation,' I says -- 'for the honor of the
family -- hic -- sen' me some bread. Hunger will compel
me to join you, -- Freddie.' Thass what I wired him, by
Harry, an' I mean it -- I'll run away from school, b'God,
if he don't sen' me some."

After this fashion the young gentleman continued to
prattle on -- and meantime Jurgis was trembling with
excitement. He might grab that wad of bills and be out
of sight in the darkness before the other could collect his
wits. Should he do it? What better had he to hope for,
if he waited longer? But Jurgis had never committed a
crime in his life, and now he hesitated half a second too
long. "Freddie" got one bill loose, and then stuffed the
rest back into his trousers' pocket.

"Here, ole man," he said, "you take it." He held it
out fluttering. They were in front of a saloon; and by
the light of the window Jurgis saw that it was a hundred-
dollar bill!

"You take it," the other repeated. "Pay the cabbie
an' keep the change -- I've got -- hic -- no head for busi~
ness! Guv'ner says so hisself, an' the guv'ner knows --

[[281]]

p280 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p281w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p282

v?