At this time of day the Bowery, always a busy thoroughfare, was swarming with people, and the numerous “barkers” for the clothing stores, photograph establishments, and the like, were doing their best to make trade come to them.  As Dick hurried past one clothing establishment a short, stocky Jew stepped in front of him.

“Von’t you step inside, young chentleman?  I sell you some gloding cheap as dirt.”

“I don’t want any clothing,” answered Dick, briefly.

“I vos mof next veek, und I sell you a suit for next to nodding,” persisted the clothing dealer.

“I don’t want to buy anything,” said Dick, and tried to push past the man.  The fellow caught him by the arm.

“If you vill only look at dose peautiful suits vot I haf for twelf dollar—­”

The Jew got no further, for with a strong push Dick sent him staggering among the dummies in front of his store.  He tried to recover his balance, but could not, and over he went, bringing down two of the dummies on top of him.

“Serves you right,” flung back Dick, as he ran on.  “The next time you’ll know enough to leave me alone.”

“Isaac!  Moses!  Sthop dot young mans!” bawled the clothing dealer, as he scrambled to his feet.  “He has ruined two peautiful dummies, mit fine suits on!  Sthop him!”

“Not to day!” muttered Dick, and dodged into the crowd.  Then, seeing that Cuffer had crossed the street, he did the same, and continued the pursuit on that side.

But to follow anybody long in a crowd on the Bowery is not easy, and after six blocks had been passed Dick came to a halt on a corner in bewilderment.  He had seen Cuffer last on that corner, but where the rascal had gone was a question.

“Want a paper?” asked an urchin close by.  “Evening papers!”

“Say, kid, did you see a man run past here just now?” asked Dick.

“Sure I did.”

“Where did he go?”

“Wot will yer give me if I tell yer?” asked the newsboy shrewdly.

“Five cents.”

“All right, hand over de nickel.”

“Here it is,” and Dick showed the money in his hand.  “Now where was it?”

“He went in de Sunrise Hotel, down dare.  I watched him run in.”

“What kind of a hat did he have on?”

“A soft hat wid a big knock in one side.”

“And you are sure he went in that hotel?”

“Cross me heart, mister.  I watched him, cos he was out o’ breath, an’ I knowed he was up to som’t’in’.”

“Here is your money,” answered Dick, and passed the nickel over.  Then he walked to the hotel and paused on the sidewalk to look the place over before entering.

CHAPTER X

DICK BECOMES A PRISONER

The Sunrise Hotel had seen better days.  It was a five story brick building, blackened by age and had numerous small windows, down in front of which ran an iron fire escape.  The lower floor was used as a drinking place, to one side of which ran a narrow stairs, leading to an office and a parlor above.