Bishop's Shadow

by Joel Chandler Harris

  IX. THEO IN TROUBLE

  Theo went regularly now to the mission school on Sunday afternoons,and Mr. Scott had become much interested in him.

  One day Mr. Scott pleased Theo immensely by going to the boy's standand getting his lunch there, and not long after he went one evening tothe boy's room. He found the place dark and the door locked, but as hewas turning away, Theo came running up the stairs.

  "Oh!" he cried out, in a tone of pleased surprise, as he saw histeacher. "Wait a minute an' I'll get a light."

  Having lighted his lamp, the boy sat down on the cot, giving thebroken stool to his visitor. Mr. Scott's heart was full of sympathyas he glanced around the forlorn little room and remembered that itwas all the home that the boy had.

  "Theodore," he said, after talking a while, "what do you do evenings?"

  "Oh, sometimes I stay in Nan's room, an' sometimes I drop in an' talkto Tommy O'Brien or some of the other sick ones in the house, an'sometimes I go somewheres outside. Saturday nights I help at a flowerstand."

  "Why don't you go to an evening school? I think that would be the bestplace for you to spend your evenings," said Mr. Scott.

  This was a new idea to the boy. He thought it over in silence.

  Mr. Scott went on, "It's not your fault, Theodore, that you have hadno schooling, thus far, but now, you can go to an evening school andit will be your fault if you grow up ignorant. You will be able to dofar more and better work in the world, with an education, than withoutone. The more you know yourself the better you can help others, yousee."

  "Yes," sighed the boy. "I guess that's so, but I 'spect I'll find ittough work learning."

  "I'm not so sure of that. It will be rather hard at first, becauseyou're not used to studying; but I think you are bright enough to goahead pretty fast when you once get a good start. Now who is thisgirl, that I've heard you mention several times--Nan is her name?"

  "Oh, yes, Nan. Come on, I want you to see her an' our baby," repliedthe boy, eagerly.

  Somewhat uncertain as to what kind of a girl this might be, yetanxious to know as much as possible about Theo's associates andsurroundings, Mr. Scott followed the boy down the stairs.

  "Nan, here's my teacher, Mr. Scott, come to see the baby," Theodoreexclaimed, as he unceremoniously pushed open the door and ushered inthe visitor.

  Mr. Scott was more taken aback than was Nan, at this abruptintroduction. The girl coloured a little, but quietly arose and shookhands with the gentleman, while Theo exclaimed:

  "Good! Little Brother ain't asleep yet. This is our baby,Mr. Scott. Ain't he a daisy? Take him."

  Now, Mr. Scott was a young man and totally unused to "taking" babies,but the boy had lifted the little one from the bed and was holding himout to his teacher with such a happy face that the young man felt thatit would never do to disappoint him. So he received the baby gingerlyin both hands and set him on his knee, but he did not know what to sayor do to amuse the child, and it was an immense relief to him whenLittle Brother held out his hands to Theo, and the boy took him againsaying,

  "Ye don't know him yet, do ye, Little Brother? You will though, by'n' by," wherein Theo was more of a prophet than he imagined.

  Relieved of the child, Mr. Scott turned to Nan and the colour rose inhis face as he saw a gleam of amusement in the girl's dark eyes, butTheo's ready tongue filled up the momentary pause, and soon all threewere chatting like old friends, and when Mr. Scott took his departure,it was with the conviction that his new scholar was fortunate inhaving Nan for a friend. At the same time he realised that this greattenement with its mixed community was a most unsuitable place for agirl like Nan, and determined that she should be gotten into bettersurroundings as soon as it could be accomplished.

  His interest in Theodore was deepened by this visit to his room andfriends. He felt that there was something unusual in the boy, anddetermined to keep watch of him and give him any needed help.

  It was November now and the night was chilly. As Mr. Scott left thetenement house he buttoned his thick overcoat about him, and shiveredas he thought of Theodore's bare cot, with not a pillow or a blanketeven.

  "Not a single bit of bedding," he said, to himself, "and no fire! Thatwill never do, in weather like this."

  The next day he mentioned the case to the aunt with whom he lived,with the result that a couple of pillows and a warm comforter weresent before night to Nan's room, addressed to Theodore Bryan, and forthe remainder of the winter the boy at least did not suffer from coldat night.

  Theodore grew to like his teacher much as the weeks passed, and oftenafter Sunday-school the two walked home together. Some of the boysthat had been longer in the class rather resented this friendship, themore so as Theo was by no means popular among them just at this time.

  "He's gettin' too good, Tode Bryan is," one of them said, oneSunday. "He walked home with teacher last week, an' now he's a doin'it again." He glanced gloomily after the two, as he spoke.

  "I'd like ter punch his head; that's what I'd like to do," put inanother. "He pitched inter me for swearin' t'other day."

  "He's a fine one to talk 'bout swearin'," added a third. "I've heardhim goin' it hot an' heavy many a time."

  "Oh yes, but he's settin' up fer a saint now, ye know," said DickHunt, scornfully. "I owe him a lickin,' an' he'll get it too 'forehe's many days older."

  "What for, Dicky?" questioned another.

  "What for? For blabbin' to my daddy an' sendin' him to Todd's afterme, the night he come sneakin' in there himself," cried Dick. "I'vebeen layin' for him ever since, an' I'll give it to him good, firstchance I get."

  "He goes to night school now," remarked one.

  "Oh, yes, he's puttin' on airs all 'round," returned Dick. "I'll nightschool him!" he added, vengefully.

  It was not long before Dick found an opportunity to execute histhreats of vengeance. He was loafing on a street corner, with Carrotsand two other boys, one night, when Theodore passed them on his wayhome from school. He nodded to them as he went by, but did notstop. Dick's eyes followed him with a threatening glance until he sawhim turn through a narrow street. Then Dick held a brief conferencewith Carrots and the other two, and all four set off hastily in thedirection that Theodore had taken.

  He, meantime, went on whistling cheerily and thinking pleasantthoughts, for he was beginning to get on at the school, and betteryet, he had in his pocket at that moment, a five-dollar bill thatmeant a great deal to him.

  Ever since his return from the bishop's house, he had been working ashe never had worked before, neglecting no opportunity to earn even anickel, and every penny that he could possibly spare he had given toNan to keep for him. He had been perfectly frank with her, and sheknew that as soon as he had saved up thirty-seven dollars he meant tocarry it to the bishop for Mrs. Russell, and tell him the wholestory. First, to stop all his wrongdoing and then as far as possible,to make up to those he had wronged--these were Theodore's firmpurposes now, but he felt that he could never bear to face the bishopagain until he could take with him the proof of his genuinerepentance.

  Many and many a time in these past weeks, had the boy planned with Nanhow he would go to the house and what he would say to the bishop, andwhat he hoped the bishop would say to him, and Nan had rejoiced almostas much as the boy himself as, week by week, the sum in her hands grewtoward the desired amount. Even Nan did not know all the hard workand stern self-denial that had made it possible for Theodore to put bythat money out of his small earnings.

  The five in his pocket on this evening would complete the entire sumand the very next day he meant to carry it to the bishop. The merethought of seeing again the face that was to him like no other face inall the world--filled the boy's heart with a deep, sweet delight. Hewas thinking of it as he hurried along through a short, dark alley,where were only two or three stables and one empty house.

  Quick, stealthy footsteps followed him, but he paid no heed to themuntil a heavy blow on the back of his head made him suddenly turn andface four
dark figures that were close at his heels.

  "Who are you? What ye hittin' me for?" he demanded, angrily.

  There was no response, but Dick struck at him again. This time,however, Theodore was on his guard, and he caught Dick's arm and gaveit a twist that made its owner cry out.

  "Oh ho, it's you, Dick Hunt. I might a' known nobody else would sneakup on a feller this way. Well, now, what are ye after?"

  "I'm after givin' you the worst lickin' ever you had," muttered Dick,trying in vain to free his arm from Theo's strong grip.

  "What for?" demanded Theodore.

  "For sneakin' into Todd's and then runnin' to tell my father where Iwas. That's one thing, but there's plenty more't I'm goin' to settlewith you for, to-night," shouted Dick, as he pounded with his lefthand, and kicked viciously at the other's shins.

  "I never spoke to your father that night," Theo declared, but Dickresponded, scornfully,

  "Tell that to a greenhorn! Pitch into him, boys. He won't let go o'me."

  Seeing the others start toward him, Theo flung Dick's arm aside, andbracing himself against a vacant house just behind him, faced them allin dogged silence. They hesitated for a moment, but Dick cried outagain,

  "Come on, boys!" and the four flung themselves upon Theo, striking,pounding and kicking all together. He defended himself as best hecould, but the odds were too great. It was only when the boy slippedto the ground in a limp, motionless heap, that his assailants drewoff, and looked uneasily at one another in the darkness.

  "What'll we do now?" whispered Carrots.

  "Cut it--somebody's comin'!" cried Dick, in a low tone, and thereuponthey took to their heels, leaving Theo as he had fallen on the ground.

  The boys stopped running as soon as they reached a lighted streetwhere the passers-by might notice them; but they walked on rapidly anddiscussed the affair in low, guarded tones.

  "You don't think he's done for, do ye, Dick?" questioned Carrots,uneasily.

  Dick tried to laugh carelessly, but the effort was a failure. He wasbeginning to be anxious as to the result, though he was not ready toadmit it.

  "Done for? Not much!" he answered, promptly. "More like he wasshammin', an' wasn't hurt half so much as he'd ought ter be."

  "But if 'tain't so-if he's hurt bad, he may have us up for 'sault an'batt'ry," remarked another.

  "Dick's the only one he could go for, 'cause 'twas so dark, hecouldn't spot the rest of us," put in Carrots, hastily.

  "Ye needn't try to sneak out o' it that way," cried Dick, sharply. "IfI get took up, you'll be, too."

  "D'ye mean't you'd give us away after gettin' us into it, jest terhelp you out?" demanded the other, in a threatening tone.

  "If he does, we'll make it hot fer _him_" put in another, as Dickanswered, doubtfully,

  "Wal if he should make a fuss 'bout it, I can't take all the blame,can I? I didn't do all the whackin'."

  "Well, I say, boys, he's a nice one, Dick Hunt is! After gettin' us tohelp him lick a feller 'cause he darsent do it alone, he talks ofgettin' us took up for it," exclaimed the last speaker; "but see here,you," he added to Dick, "Bryan knew you an' he didn't know any therest of us, an' I tell ye what--if you get inter trouble 'bout thisjob, you lug us into it 'f ye dare! I'll swear 't Carrots an' Jo herewere down t' my place with me, 'n' they'll swear to it too; hey,boys?"

  "We will so!"

  "We'll do that ev'ry time!" they answered in one voice; and then witha few cutting words the three turned off together, leaving Dick topursue his way alone.

  And miserable enough Dick was as he walked on alone. He was not in theleast sorry for what had been done to Theodore, but he was afraid ofthe consequences. He turned sick with dread as he remembered how theboy's body had slipped in a limp heap to the ground and lain theremotionless.

  Suppose they had killed him? It would be murder. Somebody would haveto answer for it and that somebody would be he--Dick Hunt. The coldperspiration started on his forehead and his heart throbbed heavily atthe thought, and he felt a wild desire to run on and on till he hadleft that dark heap in the dark alley, miles and miles behind him.

  Then came a flash of hope. Perhaps after all Tode was not so badlyhurt. Perhaps he had been shamming just to scare them. At thisthought, Dick's quick pace slackened and he had half a mind to go backand see if the body still lay there, but he could not bring himself todo that. He shivered and hurried on aimlessly, through the brightlylighted streets. He was afraid to go home, lest he be met there by thenews that he dreaded. He was afraid to stay in the streets, for everymoment he expected to feel the heavy hand of a policeman on hisshoulder. He said to himself that Carrots and the others might informagainst him just to save themselves.

  So, as wretched as a boy well could be, he wandered about for an houror two, stopping sometimes in dark corners and then hastening onagain, stealing suspicious glances over his shoulders, and listeningfor pursuing footsteps. At last, he turned homeward, longing, yetdreading, to see his mother.

  It was nearly midnight when he crept softly up the stairs, but hismother had been unable to sleep, and as his hand touched the door inthe darkness, she threw it open with a sigh of relief that her wearywaiting was over for that night. She did not find fault with him. Itseemed to her utterly useless now to complain or entreat.

  Dick longed to ask if she knew anything about Tode, but his tonguerefused to utter the words and he tumbled into bed in gloomy silence.

  There had been no shamming when Theo fell under the brutal blows ofthe four boys who had set upon him. They were all strong, well-grownlads, and striking blindly and viciously in the dark, had perhaps hitharder than they realised. At any rate Theo had felt his strengthfailing even before a last blow on his head made him unconscious ofwhat followed.

  The "somebody," whom the boys had heard, came slouching along throughthe dark alley and stumbled over the prostrate body.

  "Hello! What's this?" he exclaimed, his nimble fingers running rapidlyover the boy's face and figure. "Somebody's been up to somethinghere. Let's see if--no! Well, that's queer!"

  These disconnected remarks were the accompaniment to a rapid andskillful search through the boy's pockets, and the last emphaticexpression was drawn forth by the discovery that there had been norobbery; whereupon the newcomer promptly proceeded to complete the jobby emptying the said pockets in a manner that proved him no novice atsuch business. Then he stole noiselessly away, leaving the boy againalone in the darkness, and now there was no good bishop at hand totake him in.

  Meantime, at home, Nan was wondering why Theo did not come in as usualto tell her what he had been doing at the night school, and to getTag, who always staid with her when Theo was at the school. Tag wastroubled and uneasy too. When it was time for the boy to come Tag satwatching the door, his ears alert for a footstep outside. Now and thenhe whined, and finally he showed so plainly his desire to go out thatNan opened the door, saying,

  "Go find him, Tag."

  She stood in her doorway listening, and heard the dog scamper up toTheo's door. There he listened and nosed about for a moment, then downhe came again, and with a short, anxious bark, dashed down the stairsto the street. Nan waited a long time but the dog did not return, andat last she put out her light and went to bed with a troubled heart.

  But Tag could not sleep. He seemed to know that there was somethingwrong and something for him to attend to. He raced first to hismaster's stand, then to the mission school and to the night school,and finding all these places now dark and silent, he pattered throughthe streets, his nose close to the ground, his anxious, loving eyeswatching everything that moved. So at last he came to that dark heapin the dark alley, and first he was wild with joy, but when hisfrantic delight failed to awaken his master and make him come awayhome, Tag was sure that something was very wrong indeed and he beganto run backward and forward between the motionless body and thecorner, until he attracted the attention of a policeman who followedhim around into the dark alley, and in a few minutes Theodore was onhis
way to the Emergency Hospital with Tag following after theambulance at the top of his speed. But once again Tag found himselfrudely repulsed when he tried to slip in after his master. This timehe felt that he really could not bear it, and so he stood on thehospital steps and lifting up his voice howled his protest untilsomebody came and drove him away. But he couldn't stay away, so hecrawled into a dark corner up against the wall, and curling himselfinto the smallest possible space, lay there watchful and wretcheduntil morning, when, after eyeing wistfully those who came out andwent in past him, he trotted slowly home to Nan, and did his poor bestto tell her what had happened and where Theo was.

  Nan had passed an anxious night, for she was sure that there wassomething wrong, and since Theo's return from the bishop's, he hadbeen so changed, that she had grown very fond of him. Being a year ortwo his senior, she felt a kind of elder sisterly responsibility inregard to him, knowing as she did, that he was even more alone in theworld than she, for she had Little Brother, and Theo had nobody atall.

  So she was at Mrs. Hunt's door, talking the matter over with her, whenTag, with drooping head and tail, came slowly up the stairs. He waggedhis tail faintly at sight of Nan, and rubbed his head affectionatelyagainst her, and then stood looking up at her, as if waiting to bequestioned.

  "He's been gone all night," Nan was saying to Mrs. Hunt, and referringto the dog, "but I don't believe he found Theo. He doesn't act as ifhe had. Oh, Mrs. Hunt, where _do_ you suppose he is?"

  Mrs. Hunt shook her head. "The dear knows," she said, "but somethingmust 'a' happened to him, sure. He's been steady as clockwork sinceever he took that room upstairs, I'll say that for him." She sighed asshe spoke, thinking of her Dick.

  "But what can I do, Mrs. Hunt?" cried Nan, her eyes full of tears. "Itseems dreadful to keep right on, just as if he were here, asusual. Isn't there any way to find out where he is?"

  "Look here, Nan," exclaimed Mrs. Hunt.

  "Do you know where his teacher--that Mr. Scott--lives?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, why don't you send word to him? He seems to think a lot of Todean' Dick. I guess he does of all his scholars. He would know what todo, an' where to look for the boy--don't you think so?"

  Nan's face had brightened as her friend spoke.

  "I'm sure that's a good idea," she replied. "He's always been so niceand kind to Theo. I most know he'll help find him."

  "That's right now, child, stop fretting, for I'll warrant he'll setthings straight in no time. I'll let Dick or Jimmy go around toMr. Scott's as soon as they've had their breakfast."

  Relieved by this promise, and trying hard to be hopeful and not toworry, Nan ran back to her room, while Mrs. Hunt called the boys.

  Dick pretended to be very sound asleep, and it required more than onecall and shake to arouse him, but in reality, he too had passed a mostmiserable night, and he had listened, with heart beating fast andhard, to his mother's colloquy with Nan; and as he listened, everbefore his mind's eye was that dark, motionless heap on the ground. Inimagination, he saw Theo's dead body on a slab in the morgue, andhimself in a prison cell, condemned for murder. Dick's worst enemycould not have wished him to be any more wretched than he was in thathour, as he cowered in his bed, and strained his ears to catch everyword that was uttered. But when his mother shook him, he rubbed hiseyes, and pretended to be still half asleep, and flatly refused to goto Mr. Scott's.

  "Let Jim go, 'f anybody's got to," he growled, as he began to pull onhis clothes. "Here you, Jim, turn out lively now!" he added, yankingthe bedclothes off his brother to emphasise his words.

  "He's always a-puttin' off on me--Dick is," snarled Jim, as he joinedhis mother in the other room a few minutes later, but when he learnedwhy he was to go to Mr. Scott's he made no further objections, butswallowed his breakfast hastily, and went off on the run. Jim did notshare his brother's enmity toward the missing boy. Jim liked Theo. Heliked Nan too, and was always ready to do an errand for her, if shewanted him.

  Mr. Scott was just sitting down to breakfast when Jim appeared, and heleft his coffee to cool while he listened with keen interest to whatthe boy had to tell him. His face was very grave as he said,

  "Tell Miss Nan that I will be around there within an hour. See here,though, Jim,--have you had your breakfast?"

  "Ye--yes, sir," Jim answered, with a quick glance at the hot cakes andchops that had such an appetising odour. Jim didn't have chops and hotcakes for breakfast.

  "Aunt Mary, can you put another plate here for Jim?" Mr. Scott asked,and his aunt, with a smile, set another chair at the table, and pileda plate with eatables, of which the boy disposed as easily andspeedily as if that had been his first meal that day.

  Mr. Scott likewise made a hasty breakfast, and then he sent Jim backto Nan, while he himself went to his place of business to arrange forhis absence that morning.

  Within the hour, as he had said, he knocked at Nan's door. Shewelcomed him with a feeling of glad relief, assured that at least hewould be able to find out where Theo was. He waited only to get whatlittle information she could give him, and then set forth, but beforehe had reached the bottom of the first flight of stairs, Nan ran afterhim.

  "Mr. Scott," she called. "Wouldn't it be a good plan to takeTag--Theo's dog--with you?"

  Mr. Scott thought it would, but now an unexpected obstacle wasencountered. Tag refused to go with him. He crept under Nan's dress,and crouched there, looking quietly out at the gentleman, but makingno movement toward him, though he called and whistled as persuasivelyas he could.

  "Oh, Tag, do go," pleaded Nan, almost ready to cry at the dog'sunexpected obstinacy.

  Tag twisted his head and looked up at her, and it almost seemed as ifhe were moved by her pleading tone, for, after a moment's hesitation,he crept slowly out from his refuge, and followed Mr. Scott down thestairs. Once outside the house he stopped and gazed with keen,questioning eyes at the gentleman, standing, meanwhile, ready to dartoff, should any attempt be made to capture him, but Mr. Scott stoppedtoo, and said quietly,

  "Go find him, Tag. Find Theo."

  That was enough for the intelligent little creature. With a quick,sharp yelp of satisfaction, Tag set off at such a pace that Mr. Scotthad hard work to keep him in sight. In fact, as soon as they turnedinto a thronged business street, he lost sight of his four-footedguide entirely, but the direction Tag had taken was a sufficient clue.The young man was so certain that the Emergency Hospital was the placeto which the dog was leading him, that he boarded a car and wentdirectly there, and sure enough on the steps sat Tag, his short earserect, and his eager eyes watching impatiently for a chance to slipinside the doors.

  He seemed to know that his chance had come when he saw Mr. Scottrunning up the steps, for he frisked about and showed his delight inevery conceivable fashion. Dogs were not allowed in the hospital, butwhen Mr. Scott picked Tag up in his arms and promised to keep himthere, the attendant finally consented that he should do so. And sothey went first to the waiting-room and then up the stairs and throughthe long corridors.