ome in to fool," he said, stoutly. "Your man outside insisted
that I should come in and try on the things, although I told him I did not
wish to buy."

"Dot's all right--I wrap der suit up and you bay for dem."

"Not much!" and Ralph's temper began to rise. "Give me my coat and vest!"

He made a dash for the articles, but before he could secure them the Jew's
wife had whisked them out of his reach.

"You can't vos fool Isaac," she screamed. "You bay for der suit, and den
you gits dem pack--not before."

"I'll have them back now!" exclaimed Ralph, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Give them to me!"

The woman ran behind the counter, but he made after her. He caught hold of
the coat and vest, and despite her resistance, twisted them from her grasp.
In a second he had them on once more.

"Hellup! hellup!" screamed the woman.

"Don't you touch mine wife!" howled the old Jew.

"Samuel, come in here and hellup your fadder and mudder!"

The "puller-in" had been watching proceedings from outside of the store,
and now he came running in. He was a big, muscular fellow, and not above
acting roughly when the occasion demanded.

"See here, what do you mean by striking my mother?" he cried out, boldly.
"Do you want to get yourself locked up?"

Instead of replying to this speech, Ralph backed toward the rear of the
clothing establishment. He had no desire to enter into a fight on the
premises. Now he had his clothing, he wished to get out as quickly as
possible.

"Sthop! sthop!" screamed the old Jew. "Vere vos you going?"

Still Ralph returned no reply. The way to the front was blocked. But a rear
door, leading to a small yard, was open, and toward this he ran.

"He's goin' out of der pack!" cried the woman. "Sthop him, Isaac!"

"Run, Samuel!" shrieked Isaac, and the son darted forward, but too late to
stop Ralph in making his exit.

Ralph found the yard both small and exceedingly dirty. Beyond was another
yard, and, looking over the fence, the boy saw an open hallway leading to a
street.

Without hesitation, for Samuel was close at his heels, Ralph vaulted over
the fence. Before the young Jew could follow, he was inside of the hallway.
A minute later he was in the next street, and running through the crowd
toward the end of the block. He did not cease his rapid pace until the
neighborhood was left a good distance behind.

"Well, that's the most trying experience I've had yet," he murmured to
himself, as he at las