ly when you wanted the boy he was in the alley pitching buttons
with loafing urchins of his own kind--"alley rats" his father angrily
called them--or leading a predatory gang of the same unsavory companions
in raids on other stores in the neighborhood.

And Dan, Junior "had it in" for Hiram. He had not forgiven the bigger
boy for pitching him into the puddle.

"An' them was my best clo'es, and now maw says I've got to wear 'em just
the same on Sunday, and they're shrunk and stained," snarled the younger
Dan, hovering about Hiram as the latter re-dressed the fruit stand
during a moment's let-up in the Saturday morning rush. "Gimme an
orange."

"What! At five cents apiece?" exclaimed Hiram. "Guess not. Go look in
the basket under the bench; maybe there's a specked one there."

"Nope. Dad took 'em all home last night and maw cut out the specks and
sliced 'em for supper. Gimme a good orange."

"Ask your father," said Hiram.

"Naw, I won't!" declared young Dwight, knowing very well what his
father's answer would be.

He suddenly made a grab for the golden globe on the apex of Hiram's
handsomest pyramid.

"Let that alone, Dan!" cried Hiram, and seized the youngster by the
wrist.

Dan, Junior, was a wiry little scamp, and he twisted and turned, and
kicked and squalled, and Hiram was just wrenching the orange from his
hand when Mr. Dwight came to the door.

"What's this? What's this?" he demanded. "Fighting, are ye? Why don't
you tackle a fellow of your own size, Hi Strong?"

At that Dan, Junior, saw his chance and broke into woeful sobs. He was a
good actor.

"I've a mind to turn you over to a policeman, Hiram," cried "Mr. Dwight,
That's what I've a mind to do."

"I suppose you'll discharge me first, won't you?" suggested Hiram,
scornfully.

"You can come in and git your money right now, young man," said the
proprietor of the Emporium. "Dan! let them oranges alone. And don't you
go away from here. I'll want you all day to-day. I shall be short-handed
with this young scalawag leaving me in the lurch like this."

It had come so suddenly that Hiram almost lost his breath. He had part
of his wish, that was sure. He was not likely to work for Daniel Dwight
any longer.

The old man led the way back to his office. He had a little pile of
money already counted out upon the desk. It was plain that he had
intended quarreling with Hiram and getting rid of him at this time,
for he had the young fellow's wages figured