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liked neither of the boys； and did not care to be associated with
them。 This refusal Mike and Jim resented； and determined to 〃pay
of〃 Paul if they ever got a chance。 Our hero from time to time
saw them hovering about him； but took very little notice of them。
He knew that he was a match for either； though Mike exceeded him
in size； and he felt quite capable of taking care of himself。
One day Mike and Jim； whose kindred tastes led them to keep
company； met at the corner of Liberty and William streets。 Mike
looked unusually dilapidated。 He had had a scuffle the day
before with another boy； and his clothes； always well ventilated；
got torn in several extra places。 As it was very uncertain when
he would be in a financial condition to provide himself with
another suit； the prospect was rather alarming。 Jim Parker
looked a shade more respectable in attire； but his face and hands
were streaked with blacking。 To this； however； Jim had become so
accustomed that he would probably have felt uncomfortable with a
clean face
〃How are you off for stamps； Jim？〃 asked Mike。
〃Dead broke；〃 was the reply。
〃So am I。 I ain't had no breakfast。〃
〃Nor I 'cept an apple。 Couldn't I eat； though？〃
〃Suppose we borrow a quarter of Paul Hoffman。〃
〃He wouldn't lend a feller。〃
〃Not if he knowed it；〃 said Mike； significantly。
〃What do you mean； Mike？〃 asked Jim； with some curiosity。
〃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
snatch 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 Nassau。 On reaching the
corner they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place。 It
was rather a public place for an assault； and both boys would
have hesitated had they not been incited by a double motivethe
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； snatched 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 bloody 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。〃
〃I don't blame him much for that；〃 said