Judson stepped suddenly forward and struck the helpless lad another stinging blow. It was such a hard one that Jack’s senses swam for a minute.
“Shame on you, you young villain,” cried Mr. Jukes. “He is helpless, otherwise you wouldn’t dare lay hands on him.”
“Who says so? I could lick him any day,” swaggered Judson imprudently.
“Have you people no sense of right and honesty in your compositions?” demanded Mr. Jukes.
But this appeal had no more effect on Broom than it would have had on adamant.
“We’re no worse than you millionaires, if all the papers say is true,” he retorted. “You rob in your way, we rob in ours. We’re not quite so refined about it, perhaps. That’s the only difference, Mr. Jukes.”
“You ruffian! Do you compare business,—legitimate business,—with your rascally trade?”
“My rascally trade, as you please to term it, is business,—legitimate business,—to me,” returned Broom.
“Are we to have any food?” demanded the millionaire abruptly.
“When you listen to reason, yes.”