"You knocked my bundle from my hand!" added another. "It's a shame the way some roughs act on these trains. The authorities ought to have them arrested," he went on in a loud voice.
"What's the trouble in there?" demanded a policeman, who was on the station platform in the crowd.
"This young fellow is too fresh," explained the man who had dropped his bundle.
"I want to get off, that's all," said Dick.
"Well, you behave yourself," growled the guardian of the peace, and Dick was glad enough to get away with this reprimand. He saw Cuffer running for the stairs and made after him as rapidly as the density of the crowd permitted.
When Dick gained the street once more the train bearing Sam was again on its way downtown. Cuffer was about a block away, running past Cooper Institute in the direction of the Bowery.
"I may as well keep up the chase and try to run him down," thought
Dick, but he wished his brother was with him.
At this time of day the Bowery, always a busy thoroughfare, was swarming with people, and the numerous "barkers" for the clothing stores, photograph establishments, and the like, were doing their best to make trade come to them. As Dick hurried past one clothing establishment a short, stocky Jew stepped in front of him.
"Von't you step inside, young chentleman? I sell you some gloding cheap as dirt."
"I don't want any clothing," answered Dick, briefly.