He went out with the chair to the vans, narrowly escaping a collision with two men carrying a big bureau.
“Look out, youngster,” advised one of the men as they came out of the van after having put the bureau inside. “You might get stepped on.”
“By one of the horses?” asked Tommy, anxiously.
“Well, no, not exactly,” replied the man. “I meant by one of us. I wouldn’t mean to step on you, of course,” he said; “but I’ve got powerful big feet, an’ when I steps on anything something generally happens—not always, but generally. Of course I wouldn’t want to step on you, but I might do it, accidental like,” and the man lifted up his foot and looked at it as though deciding what he would step on next. And, truly, it was a very big foot in a very large shoe. Tommy did not like the appearance of it, and yet the man seemed kind.
“Just don’t get in the way, so’s you’ll get stepped on, youngster, that’s all I advise you,” went on the man, and Tommy promised that he would be careful. After that, when he carried out chairs and light pieces of furniture, he always looked to see if the man with the big feet was at a safe distance.
The moving men, even the one who was afraid he would step on Tommy, were good-natured, and they worked well. Nellie was helping her mother, and Mr. Tiptop was very busy also. Tommy was carrying out a wash-bench, when several of his boy friends came along the street.
“What’s up?” asked Sammie Small.
“Moving. Going to Riverdale,” replied Tommy, proudly.
“Aren’t you coming to school?” asked Patsie Cook.
“Nope!”