"

"He crawled in behind those boxes," answered the little girl and then
ran away.

Randy waited to hear no more, but made a dash for the boxes. As he did
so, the fellow who had robbed him leaped up, club in hand.

"Go out of here!" he cried, in a hoarse voice. "I don't want anything
to do with a kid like you."

"You give me my money," answered Randy, vigorously. "I am not going to
let the like of you rob me."

"Ho! ho! Hear the kid talk! Go away, before I maul ye!" And Bill Hosker
brandished his club.

But our hero was not to be daunted thus readily, and looking around he
espied a stick and picked it up. Then he advanced upon Bill Hosker, who
promptly leaped to the top of a big packing case. The next instant he
came down upon Randy, bearing him to the ground. Our hero tried to
defend himself, but it was useless. He was crushed beneath that heavy
weight, and then the rascal gave him a crack on the head that stretched
him senseless.

CHAPTER XVI

IN NEW YORK CITY

"Will he live, mamma?"

"I think so, Rose. But he has been badly misused."

"Bill Hosker ought to be locked up for it."

"Nobody will lock Bill up. He has too much influence with the
politicians," answered the woman.

She was bending over Randy, who was still unconscious. Mother and
daughter had carried our hero from the yard to their room in the rear
of the tenement. Nobody else had been around. The girl had witnessed
Bill Hosker's nefarious deed and had at once summoned her parent.

Mrs. Clare was a poor widow lady who supported herself by sewing. Rose
was her only child and did what she could to help her mother. Sewing
did not pay well, and the Clares had all they could do to make both
ends meet.

But Mrs. Clare had a warm heart and so had Rose, and it pained them
greatly to see Randy so mistreated. They carried him into their one
room and placed him on their bed and did what they could for him.

At last he opened his eyes and stared around him. Then he sat up
slowly.

"Where am I?" he asked, faintly.

"We brought you into the house--mother and I," answered Rose. "Don't
you remember, Bill Hosker struck you down?"

"Oh, yes; I remember that now." Randy took a deep breath and put his
hand to his head. "He hit me pretty hard, didn't he?"

"I am afraid he did," answered Mrs. Clare. "It was a shame, too."

"Where is he now?"

"He ran away."

"He stole eighty cents from me."

"Perhaps he took more," said Rose. "He went thr