"You've robbed me of ten dollars. You'll have
to be satisfied with that."
"It was no good. It might have sent me
to prison. If I was nicely dressed I might
pass it, but when a chap like me offers a ten-
dollar bill it's sure to he looked at sharply.
I haven't a cent, and I'll trouble you to hand
over all you've got."
"Why don't you work for a living? You
are a strong, able-bodied man."
"You'll find I am if you give me any more
of your palaver."
Carl saw that the time of negotiation was
past, and that active hostilities were about to
commence. Accordingly he turned and ran,
not forward, but in the reverse direction, hoping
in this way to meet with Mr. Jennings.
"Ah, that's your game, is it?" growled the tramp.
"You needn't expect to escape, for I'll overhaul
you in two minutes."
So Carl ran, and his rough acquaintance ran after him.
It could hardly be expected that a boy of sixteen,
though stout and strong, could get away from a tall,
powerful man like the tramp.
Looking back over his shoulder, Carl saw
that the tramp was but three feet behind, and
almost able to lay his hand upon his shoulder.
He dodged dexterously, and in trying to do
the same the tramp nearly fell to the ground.
Naturally, this did not sweeten his temper.
"I'll half murder you when I get hold of you,"
he growled, in a tone that bodied ill for Carl.
The latter began to pant, and felt that he
could not hold out much longer. Should he
surrender at discretion?
"If some one would only come along," was his
inward aspiration.
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