"A few nights later a beggar touched his arm as he passed. The man said he was hungry and looked it. Jerry gave him his pocketbook. The fellow glanced at the pocketbook and then at Jerry as though he thought the boy was crazy and bolted without a word. Jerry watched him out of sight. 'Might at least have said "Thank you,"' he murmured. He didn't speak of giving away money for awhile.
"A night or two later he had an experience of another sort. It was after the theater, the least noxious play I could discover on the bills. Two women met us in a dark cross street. I saw Jerry stop and stare at one of them. That was unusual. I urged him to go on but he stopped and listened.
"'In an awful hurry, ain't you, dearie?' one of the girls asked.
"'Why, no, not at all,' says Jerry, politely taking off his hat. And then as her appellation struck him: 'I think you must have mistaken me for someone else.'
"The girl was a little puzzled.
"'Aw, yer stringin' me,' she said.
"'Stringing?' asked Jerry.
"'Cut it out. You know what I mean well enough'. Come along,' and she moved a pace away.
"Jerry followed. 'I'd be glad to come if I can be of any assistance.'
"'Assistance,' laughed the girl.