But even as he boasted of his freedom from the school-room, a most astonishing surprise was hurrying to catch up with Teddy Burke.
[CHAPTER IV]
A SURPRISE AND A DISAPPOINTMENT
A thin, black-eyed boy halted on the street corner opposite Martin Brothers’ Department Store and looked eagerly up and down the street. It was fifteen minutes past seven by the clock on a nearby public building. Commerce Street was beginning to teem with early-morning activity. Noisy, crowded trolley cars rumbled by, each bearing its patient load of working men and women, forced by necessity to make their daily pilgrimage in over-crowded cars, where they paid their hard-earned nickels for the privilege of hanging to a strap, or being knocked about like unresisting nine-pins as the cars jolted and bumped over weary blocks of city streets. Hurrying pedestrians impatiently dodged one another, each intent on reaching his goal at the very earliest possible moment. The thin little boy on the corner eyed the clock with a frown. It was now twenty minutes past seven. Where was Harry Harding?
“Did you think I was never coming?” Teddy Burke gave a positive jump, as he heard Harry’s voice in his ear. The other boy had come up the street at a moment when Teddy was busily gazing in the opposite direction. “I know it’s late. I walked. I should have given myself a little more time, though. To-morrow I’ll start ten minutes earlier. We’ll just about reach Mr. Keene’s office by half past seven.”
“Catch me walking to work in the morning,” said Teddy, as they hurried across the street. “I don’t mind walking home, but I’d have to start fifteen minutes earlier if I hoofed it down here every day, and I need that fifteen minutes for sleep. Ma gave me a quarter for lunch and carfare, too, so I guess I can spend it.”
“You’re richer than I am,” laughed Harry. “I’ve only a dime.”
By this time the boys had entered the store and were walking briskly down the main arcade to the elevator nearest to Mr. Keene’s office.