peddler alone?" retorted Jack.

"What business is this of yours?"

"That chap wasn't doing any harm here so far as I can see. He's only
trying to earn his living."

"See here, kid! this is none of your affair, and I want you to keep out
of it," stormed the dudish-looking youth. "We don't allow those fellows
around this building."

"Then you tell him to move on in a decent kind of way," returned Jack.

"I'll do as I please." The big boy turned again towards the peddler and
made a motion as if to push both the man and his stand down, but,
instantly, Jack caught hold of him again and pulled him back, shoving
him in between two pillars of the building's entrance.

"You had better go on," said Jack to the peddler, and, evidently much
frightened by what was occurring, the little man took up his stand and
disappeared as if by magic in the crowd on the street.

"Say! you've got gall to interfere with me!" burst out the big youth,
glaring at Jack. "I'll teach you a lesson;" and with a sudden move he
pulled Jack's bundle from under his arm and threw it out into the
street. "Now you go about your business and don't you interfere with me
again."

To have the bundle belonging to his mother treated in that fashion made
the young Rover's blood boil. He jumped at the big youth, and as the
other aimed a blow at him he dodged and then caught his opponent by the
ear.

"Ouch! Let go!" screamed the big youth in sudden pain, and then he
landed a blow on Jack's shoulder and received a crack on the chin in
return.

How far this encounter might have gone, it is hard to say, but at that
moment, while a crowd was beginning to gather, there came a sudden
interruption in the appearance of Jack's Uncle Tom, followed by his
Uncle Sam.

"Hello! What does this mean?" demanded Tom Rover, as he stepped between
the two boys.

"It means that I've got an account to settle with that young snip, Mr.
Rover!" cried the big youth savagely and giving Jack a look full of
hatred.

"Uncle Tom, that fellow is nothing but a brute," declared Jack.

"A brute? What do you mean?"

"He just attacked a poor little peddler who was trying to sell a few
things from a stand here in the corner. He tried to knock the peddler
down and upset his stand. I told him to stop and then he attacked me."

"Humph! Are you this boy's uncle, Mr. Rover?" asked the big youth, in
surprise.

"I am, Martell."

"Then I want to tell you that he has no right to interfere wit