After Fagin learned that he was causing Gene and Bill so much trouble he doubled his efforts to persecute them. "They're afraid to pass by the place any more," he said. "If they're tryin' to do good, why don't they come in and talk to us? I guess Gene can't leave his girl long enough.
"Say, kid, come here," he called to Jimmie. "Why don't Morton come down here and try to convert us? Does he think we're so good we don't need it?"
"Der yer want him ter come?" asked Jimmie.
"Sure I want him, but he won't come; he's scart of the cars."
Thirty minutes later, Jimmie rushed into Fagin's. There were ten or twenty men at the bar and Jimmie called out so every one could hear, "Say, Fagin, Mr. Morton said he'd come ter-night at eight er-clock an' hold a meetin' in yer saloon if you'll promise ter sell no booze from eight ter nine. Will yer do it?"
"Be game, Fagin, be game!" cried several voices. "Don't let him bluff you."
Fagin hesitated a moment.
"You're yellow, Fagin. I heard yer ask the kid why he didn't come and now yer afraid he will come."
"Be game, old man; we'll all come to the meeting," said another.
After much good-natured talk of this kind, Fagin turned to Jimmie and said, "Tell 'em to come, kid, and we'll give 'em the warmest time they've had in months."