So Jimmy hustled around and sold a large number of papers. Frank Merton and Sam Schmidt had been helping the partners, and business had not been so bad, though of course the profits were largely taken up in paying the two boys who did Dick's work.
One afternoon, at the close of the day's business, Sam Schmidt came to Jimmy with every appearance of excitement.
"What's the matter, Sam?" asked Jimmy. "Found a pocketbook full of bills?"
"Nope, but I haf alretty found somedings else."
"What is it?"
"I haf found der advertisement about dot Box feller."
"What! About Dick? Have you found something about him in the paper?" for Sam had not given up looking for a notice in the personal columns of the papers, which might refer to the strange new boy who had come into the midst of the news-lads.
"For sure, I haf. Here it iss," and Sam pulled out a piece torn from the Herald.
"Read it," said Jimmy. "I ain't quite quick enough on me—I mean my—words yet. You read it."
"Vell, I am not so good on der Englishness of it, but dis is vot it means. 'If der boy vot runned avay from his home vill come back all vill be forgiveness, und der money he took to go und fight der Indians mit, he can keep, for his mudder und his fadder is sorrowfulness mitout him, und vould he please write or sends a message und all vill be vell, und he kin haf der pony und der bicycle vot he wants.' Dot's all dere is to it."