“Oh yes, sure,” was the reply.  “His satchel is here with the books he always takes.”

“I’ll come back again then.”  Rex went out, thinking that now there was no danger of his ever having to step into the shoes of this office boy.  Syd had remarked once or twice that he thought he could get him a position in a law office when he was through school.

Rex wandered along the street aimlessly for a while.  If it hadn’t been midsummer he might have gone over to Spruce and Walnut and called on some of his friends, but they were either at their summer homes in Marley or off traveling.

He was therefore reduced to walking to kill time, choosing the shady side and watching for any incident of city life that might divert his mind.  He came to a bicycle emporium presently and stood for some time in front of it, trying to decide which wheel he should select when he came to purchase as he hoped to do very shortly now.

“That’s the dandy kind,” remarked a voice over his shoulder.  “The Wizard motor.  You can ride over all sorts of roads with it.”

Rex turned and saw a fellow about a year older than himself.  He had a red face and wore an outing shirt that was not as fresh as it might have been.

Rex, who was rather fastidious as to his friends, simply said “Yes,” and moved on.

The fellow noticed the look which accompanied the word.

“The dude!” he muttered.  “Thinks he’s too good to talk with the likes o’ me.  I’ll get even with him.”

He waited an instant and then followed Rex at a distance.  Presently something that he espied ahead caused him to scan the sidewalk and the street next it closely.

Then he stepped out into the roadway and picked up a piece of coal that had dropped from a passing cart.  He quickened his steps and nearly caught up with Rex just as the latter was passing a Chinese laundry.

“Run for your life!  Runaway team behind you!” he exclaimed suddenly, darting forward and calling out the words almost in Rex’s ear.  At the same instant he flung the piece of coal he had picked up straight into the window of the Chinese laundry.

There was a crash of glass and Rex, connecting the sound with the warning he had received, immediately took to his heels.

“There he goes!” called out the red faced youth to the Chinaman who promptly appeared in the door of his shop.

The Celestial’s almond eyes caught sight of Rex’s fleeing figure.  It was enough.  He dropped his iron and rushed after Rex, the conscienceless hoodlum joining in the chase.

Rex, hearing no further sound to tell him that a dangerous runaway was close upon him, had just decided to slacken his pace and turn around to investigate, when he felt a hand laid on his shoulder.

“Me got you,” crowed a wheezy voice in his ear.  “Now for pleecy man.”

Rex was horrified to find himself in the grasp of a Chinese laundryman.