ks; it's your shot," advised Pete. "I t'ink I kin win from
youse now."

"Are you coming with me?" asked Dick in a low tone.

"Say, kid, be youse his guardian?" inquired a big lad. "Why didn't
youse tie a string t' Bricks if yer so careful of him as all dat."

"Guess I'll have to go, fellers," spoke up Jimmy, rather regretfully,
it must be admitted.

"What? An' not give us a chance t' git some of our money back?" came
from three or four.

"Some other day I will."

"Naw, I want t' pitch some more now," declared Pete.

There were angry murmurs at Dick's interference, and several scowled at
Jimmy. It looked as if there might be trouble, but just then a
policeman opportunely came in sight. Some one spied him, and there was
a cry:

"Cheese it, de cop!"

Instantly the penny-pitching crowd dispersed as if by magic. Most of
the boys jumped through the railings, cut across the grass plots and
were lost to sight among the trees. The bigger lads walked more
slowly, with an assumed air of innocence. As for Jimmy, he joined
Dick, and the two strolled over to the edge of the Battery wall,
looking down into the swirling waters of the bay.

"Did you want anything special?" asked Jimmy.

"Yes, I did."

"What is it? Is there a big extra out?"

"No. I heard you were gambling, and I came down to stop you."

"Gambling? You don't call pitchin' pennies gambling, do you, Dick?"

"What else is it?"

"Well, I s'pose it is, in a way. But that's no harm. All the fellows
does it."

"I'm afraid that doesn't make it good, Jimmy. I don't want to be
finding fault all the while, and I'm sure I don't set up to be any
better than you are, but I know gambling is bad. You'll never win in
the long run, and it will do you harm. Besides, you can't afford to
lose, even if it is not wrong."

"But I won to-day."

"Do you often win?"

"Naw, this is the first time I ever made much. Most times I lose."

"I thought so. I hope you don't do it much."

"Not very often. De cops--I mean the policemen--are too strict. I do
it once in a while."

"I wish you'd give it up," went on Dick. "I know I'm asking a lot of
you. First you gave up smoking for me, then the use of slang and rough
expressions, and now I ask you this. But I do it for your own good and
because I like you, Jimmy."

"I know youse does--I mean you do, Dick, an'--say--I'll--I'll stop
pitching pennies if you don't like it."

"Will you, really?"

"Honest!