The information gave him this important advantage: He was no longer under the necessity of dogging the steps of the two men, which, if persisted in, would have been likely to attract their attention and arouse their suspicions. He was able now to leave them. All that would be necessary was to be on the spot at the time mentioned, or a little earlier. But what preparations should he make? For a boy to think of engaging single-handed with two ruffians was of course foolhardy. Yet it was desirable that he should have a weapon of some kind. Here, however, there was a difficulty, as there were no shops probably open at that hour, where he could provide himself with what he desired.
While considering with some perplexity what he should do, he came across Tim Graves, a fellow newsboy, carrying in his hand a bat.
"How are you, Tim?" he said.
"I'm so's to be round. Where are you going?"
"Up-town on an errand. Where'd you get that bat?"
"I was up to the Park to see a base-ball match, and picked it up."
"What'll you take for it?"
"Want to buy?"
"Yes."
"I don't know," said Tim, hesitating. "It's worth a quarter."