by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XI.
AMONG THIEVES.
The night fell early, for a thick fog came on in the afternoon. Tonycowered down upon his broom under the wall where Dolly had sat in thesunshine all the morning to watch him sweep his crossing. It was all overnow. She was lost to him; for he should never dare to go back to oldOliver's house, and face that terrible old woman again. There was nothingfor him but to return to his old life and his old haunts; and a chill ranthrough him, body and spirit, as he thought of it. His heap of papershavings under the counter, where the biting winds could not reach him,came to his mind, and the tears rushed to his eyes. But to-night, atleast, there would be no need to sleep out of doors, for he had somemoney in the safest corner of his ragged pocket, tied up in it securelywith a bit of string. He could afford to pay for a night's lodging, andhe knew very well where he could get one.
About nine o'clock Tony turned his weary feet towards a slum he knewof in Westminster, where there was a cellar open to everybody who couldpay two-pence for a night's shelter. His heart was very full and heavywith resentment against his enemy, and a great longing to see Dolly. Heloitered about the door of the cellar, reluctant and almost afraid toventure in; for it was so long since he had been driven to any of theseplaces that he felt nearly like a stranger among them. Besides, in formertimes he had been kicked, and beaten, and driven from the fire, andfought with by the bigger boys; and he had become unaccustomed to suchtreatment of late. How different this lodging-house was to the quietpeaceful home where Dolly knelt down every evening at her grandfather'sknee, and prayed for him; for now she always put Tony's name into herchildish prayers! He should never, never hear her again, nor see oldOliver seated in his arm-chair, smoking his long pipe, while he talkedwith that strange friend and master of his. Ah! he would never hear orknow any more of that unseen Christ, who was so willing to be his masterand friend, for the Lord Jesus Christ could never come into such a wickedplace as this, which was the only home he had. He had given him thecrossing and the broom, and that was the end of it. He must take care ofhimself now, and keep out of gaol if he could, and if not, why then hehad better make a business of thieving, and become as good a pickpocketas "Clever Dog Tom," who had once stolen a watch from a policemanhimself.
Clever Dog Tom was the first to greet Tony when he slipped in at last,and he seemed inclined to make much of him; but Tony was too troubledfor receiving any consolation from Tom's friendly advances. He creptaway into the darkest corner, and stretched himself on the thin strawwhich covered the damp and dirty floor, but he could not fall asleep.There was a good deal of quarreling among the boys, and the men whowished to sleep swore long and loudly at them. Then there followed afight, which grew so exciting at last that every person in the place,except Tony, gathered about the boys in a ring, encouraging and cheeringthem. It was long after midnight before silence and rest came, and thenhe fell into a broken slumber, dreaming of Dolly and old Oliver, untilhe awoke and found his face wet with tears. He got up before any of hisbed-fellows were aroused, and made his way out into the fresh keen airof a December morning.
Day after day went by, and night after night Tony was growing moreindifferent again to the swearing and fighting of his old comrades. Hebegan to listen with delight to the tales of Clever Dog Tom, who told himthat hands like his would work well in his line, and his innocent-lookingface would go a long way towards softening any judge and jury, or wouldbring him favour with the chaplain, and easy times in gaol. He kept hiscrossing still, and did tolerably well, earning enough to keep himself infood, and to pay for his night's shelter; but he was beginning to hankerafter something more. If he could not be good, and be on the same side asold Oliver and Dolly, he thought it would be better to be altogether onthe other side, like Tom, who dressed well, and lived well, and waslooked up to by other boys. It was a week after he had left old Oliver'shouse, and he was about to leave his crossing for the night, when agentleman stopped him suddenly, and looked keenly into his face.
"Hollo, my lad!" he said, "you're the boy I gave fourpence to a weekago for holding my horse. I told you to lay it out well. What did youdo with it?"
"Me and Dolly bought this broom," he answered, "and I've kept thiscrossing ever since."
"Well done!" said the gentleman. "And who is Dolly?"
"It's a little girl as I was very fond of," replied Tony, with a deepsigh. It seemed so long ago that he spoke of his love for her as if itwas a thing altogether passed away and dead, yet his heart still ached atthe memory of it.
"Well, here's another fourpenny-bit for you," said his friend, "quite anew one. See how bright it is; no one has ever bought anything with ityet. Dolly will like to see it."
Tony held it in the palm of his hand long after the gentleman was out ofsight, gazing at it in the lamplight. It was very beautiful and shining;and oh! how Dolly's eyes would shine and sparkle if she could only seeit! And she ought to see it. By right it belonged to her; for had he notgiven her his first fourpenny-piece freely, and had twenty kisses for it,and then had she not given it him back to buy a broom with? she had neverhad a single farthing of all his earnings. How he would like to show herthis beautiful piece of silver, and feel her soft little arms round hisneck, when he said it was to be her very own! He felt that he dare notpass the night in the cellar with such a treasure about him, for Tom, whowas so clever, would be sure to find out that his pocket was worth thepicking, and Tony had not found that there was much honour among thieves.What was he to do? Where was he to go?