o the
arrangement entered into between him and Mike, the latter, for his
services, was to receive one cent on every package sold. This, however,
seemed to Teddy too much to pay, so, when the time of reckoning came, he
stoutly asseverated that there were but sixty packages.

"That don't go down," said Mike, indignantly; "it's nearer a hundred."

"No, it isn't. It's only sixty. You've got the fifty cents, and I'll
give you ten more."

"You must give me the whole sixty, then," said Mike, changing his
ground. "I drawed the fifty as a prize."

Teddy was struck with astonishment at the impudence of this assumption.

"It wasn't no prize," he said.

"Yes, it was," said Mike. "You said so yourself. Didn't he, Jim?"

Jim, who was also a confederate, but had agreed to accept twenty-five
cents in full for services rendered, promptly answered:

"Shure, Mike's right. It was a prize he drew."

"You want to chate me!" said Teddy, angrily.

"What have you been doin' all the mornin'?" demanded Mike. "You're the
chap to talk about chatin', ain't you?"

"I'll give you twenty-five cents," said Teddy, "and that's all I will
give you."

"Then you've got to fight," said Mike, squaring off.

"Yes, you've got to fight!" chimed in Jim, who thought he saw a chance
for more money.

Teddy looked at his two enemies, each of whom was probably more than a
match for himself, and was not long in deciding that his best course was
to avoid a fight by running. Accordingly, he tucked all the money
into his pocket, and, turning incontinently, fled down Liberty street,
closely pursued by his late confederates. Paul came up just in time to
hear the termination of the dispute and watch the flight of his late
business rival.

"I guess Teddy won't go into the business again," he reflected. "I may
as well take my old stand."

Accordingly he once more installed himself on the post office steps, and
began to cry, "Prize packages. Only five cents!"

Having no competitor now to interfere with his trade, he met with fair
success, and by four o'clock was able to start for home with his empty
basket, having disposed of all his stock in trade.

His profits, though not so great as the day before, amounted to a
dollar.

"If I could only make a dollar every day," thought Paul, "I would be
satisfied."

CHAPTER V

PAUL LOSES HIS BASKET

Paul continued in the prize-package business for three weeks. His
success varied, but he never made less than