“You talk like a fairy story,” grinned Teddy. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hear me calling ’em pet names. I’m sorry about that fellow I called ‘some crank.’ If his ears had been in the right place he wouldn’ta thought you said it. I’ll go to him and tell him I’m the boy that said it. He may treat you pretty mean.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort.” Harry’s lips set with decision. “Mr. Barton will probably forget about it. I don’t believe he’ll be so very mean to me. There’s a nice young lady at the exchange desk. Her name is Miss Welch. She has been real good to me to-day. She told me not to mind if Mr. Martin was cross.”
“There’s a nice man in the old pans and kettles department,” returned Teddy. “His name’s Hickson and he has red hair, too. He says he used to act like me when he was a boy.”
“Then we’ve each made a friend, haven’t we?” commented Harry. “You’re better off than I am, though, Ted. You haven’t anyone down on you, and I’m on the bad side of two persons.”
“Yes, and I’m to blame,” said Ted savagely. “You shoulda let me alone with that fat kid up in the lunch room. I’da punched him and——”
“Been discharged,” finished Harry.
“Well, he wouldn’t’ve jumped on you, anyhow,” muttered Teddy.
Harry regarded the little, red-haired boy with genuine affection. This sudden revelation of regard for him on Teddy’s part pleased him greatly.
“You’re a good chum, Teddy,” he said. “Don’t you worry about that fat boy. He won’t bother either of us again. He’s a coward.”
The boys trudged along the busy city streets, talking earnestly of their day’s work. In spite of the fact that they had been on their feet all day, neither of them felt tired. The novelty of their first day’s work had caused them to forget themselves. When at last they separated at the corner where their ways diverged, Teddy said eagerly, “Well, it’s been some day, all right. I’d a good deal rather work than go to school. Say, if I can get up early enough to-morrow morning I’ll meet you on this corner at seven o’clock. If you don’t see me, don’t wait.”