The big man stared down at the little man, in surprise, with a gruff "Huh?" but Edward Billings Henry had no time to repeat. His hope had revived. The two men who lay on their backs under the injured car began to crawl out, and the boy rushed forward.
"Will it go now?" he inquired of one of the numerous conductors clustered around.
"Maybe so—in half an hour," replied the conductor, carelessly.
"O," cried the boy, in dismay, "I just can't wait that long!"
"Walk, then!" said the conductor, crossly.
"It's too far," replied the boy, "when you've got a stone toe."
"A what?" ejaculated the conductor; but his voice was lost in the honk! honk! of a big white touring car which pushed slowly through the crowd.
In front of the car Edward Billings Henry raced limpingly on his stone toe back to the curb and to the man jingling the coins in his pocket.
"Just what time is it, please?" he asked.
The man pulled out a watch and showed it to him. Edward Billings Henry heaved a great sigh.