"You'd 'a' found out if youse hadn't runned!" said Ratsey.
"Didn't youse run wid us?" retorted Swipes.
"Sure, I did," admitted Ratsey, "an' who wouldn't? But these ain't ourn, and we ought ter take 'em back. Dey's fer some rich kid's Christmas tree."
"How'll you find out what kid?" continued Swipes, who really harbored no evil intentions, but was extremely desirous of finding it impossible to make restitution. "Dere ain't no names on de papers."
Whereupon the three boys carefully examined every piece of wrapping-paper, but the name of a purchaser was to be found on none.
"If dere wasn't so much," stammered Tag, "I wouldn't mind. But dem t'ings must 'a' cost a hunnerd dollars!"
"Ah-h," sneered Swipes, "a hunnerd dollars! Youse never bought no toys; what d'ye know about it?" A remark which precipitated a lively discussion concerning the probable price of the toys; and when it finally ended, each boy had his own idea as to what money had been paid for them, and no two agreed. The investigation into the ownership was then resumed, but no clew was found until Ratsey opened the box of writing-paper, which had not interested the boys until then, and discovered an address engraved upon each sheet—144 West 134th Street. Whereupon he said:
"De people what lives in dat house would know about dese t'ings."
"A-hunnerd-and-t'irty-fourt' Street!" exclaimed Tag.
"Gee, dat must be goats livin' dere!" added Swipes.