Part 4 (1/2)

Teddy had started, originally, with seventy-five packages; but of those scarcely a dozen were left. A group of boys were around him. Among them was Mike, who was just on the point of buying another package. As before, he put it in his pocket, and it was not till Teddy asked, ”What luck, Mike?” that he drew it out, and opening it again, produced fifty cents.

”It's the big prize!” he said. ”Sure I'm in luck, anyhow.”

”You're the boy that's lucky,” said Teddy, with a grin.

As Paul witnessed the scene a light broke upon him. Now he understood how Teddy could afford to give such large prizes. Mike and the other boy, Jim, were only confederates of his--decoy ducks--who kept drawing over again the same prize, which was eventually given back to Teddy. It was plain now why Mike put the package into his pocket before opening it. It was to exchange it for another packet into which the money had previously been placed, but which was supposed by the lookers-on to be the same that had just been purchased. The prize could afterward be placed in a new packet and used over again.

”That ain't the same package,” said Paul, announcing his discovery. ”He had it all the while in his pocket.”

”Look here,” bl.u.s.tered Mike, ”you jest mind your own business! That's the best thing for you.”

”Suppose I don't?”

”If you don't there may be a funeral to-morrow of a boy about your size.”

There was a laugh at Paul's expense, but he took it coolly.

”I'll send you a particular invitation to attend, if I can get anybody to go over to the island.”

As Mike had been a resident at Blackwell's Island on two different occasions, this produced a laugh at his expense, in the midst of which Paul walked off.

CHAPTER IV

TEDDY GIVES UP BUSINESS

”Have you sold all your packages, Paul?” asked Jimmy, as our hero entered the humble room, where the table was already spread with a simple dinner.

”No,” said Paul, ”I only sold twenty. I begin to think that the prize-package business will soon be played out.”

”Why?”

”There's too many that'll go into it.”

Here Paul related his experience of the morning, explaining how it was that Teddy had managed to distance him in the compet.i.tion.

”Can't you do the same, Paul?” asked Jimmy. ”Mother's got a gold dollar she could lend you.”

”That might do,” said Paul; ”but I don't know any boy I could trust to draw it except you, and some of them would know we were brothers.”

”I think, Paul, that would be dishonest,” said Mrs. Hoffman. ”I would rather make less, if I were you, and do it honestly.”

”Maybe you're right, mother. I'll try it again this afternoon, keeping as far away from Teddy as I can. If I find I can't make it go, I'll try some other business.”

”Jimmy, have you shown Paul your drawing?” said his mother.

”Here it is, Paul,” said Jimmy, producing his drawing-book, from which he had copied a simple design of a rustic cottage.

”Why, that's capital, Jimmy,” said Paul, in real surprise. ”I had no idea you would succeed so well.”