"Yes," cried the boy, eager with excitement over the service he was rendering the great man. "And the minute I read it and knew that you were here, I knew you ought to have it."
"Didn't you send it?"
"Yes, I had to. You see he stood right there. But just as soon as he went, I lit out to find you."
"Where is he now?"
"I seen him on the front porch with Miss Grossman. Say, you'll want to be going now, won't you, huh? You ken get to New York to-night if you hurry."
The Watermelon rattled the coins in his pockets and looked down at the thin, crafty face of the youngster. "Kid," said lie, "if you keep on as you've begun, you'll be doing time, sure. You're a thieving little snipe and ought to be the head of a corporation some day, or a United States senator, 'cause you haven't as much honor as a grasshopper, see? I don't know why you shouldn't land in Sing Sing, if you miss the corporation job or the senate."
"Huh," said the boy, reddening with the praise of the great man.
"If you let on that you have shown this to me, you will lose your job here, you know. So, until I can see my friend, J. Pierpont, about that other job for you, you'd better keep your mouth shut. Understand?"
"Sure," cried the boy. "Course I understand."
The Watermelon handed him a quarter. "When I reach New York," said he airily, "I'll send you me check for a thousand."