"Yes," said Dick, "who'd ever have thought as I should have turned
into a swell?"

They had now got out on Broadway, and were slowly walking along the
west side by the Park, when who should Dick see in front of him, but
Johnny Nolan?

Instantly Dick was seized with a fancy for witnessing Johnny's
amazement at his change in appearance. He stole up behind him, and
struck him on the back.

"Hallo, Johnny, how many shines have you had?"

Johnny turned round expecting to see Dick, whose voice he
recognized, but his astonished eyes rested on a nicely dressed
boy (the hat alone excepted) who looked indeed like Dick, but
so transformed in dress that it was difficult to be sure of
his identity.

"What luck, Johnny?" repeated Dick.

Johnny surveyed him from head to foot in great bewilderment.

"Who be you?" he said.

"Well, that's a good one," laughed Dick; "so you don't know Dick?"

"Where'd you get all them clothes?" asked Johnny. "Have you been
stealin'?"

"Say that again, and I'll lick you. No, I've lent my clothes to a
young feller as was goin' to a party, and didn't have none fit to
wear, and so I put on my second-best for a change."

Without deigning any further explanation, Dick went off, followed
by the astonished gaze of Johnny Nolan, who could not quite make up
his mind whether the neat-looking boy he had been talking with was
really Ragged Dick or not.

In order to reach Chatham Street it was necessary to cross Broadway.
This was easier proposed than done. There is always such a throng
of omnibuses, drays, carriages, and vehicles of all kinds in the
neighborhood of the Astor House, that the crossing is formidable
to one who is not used to it. Dick made nothing of it, dodging in
and out among the horses and wagons with perfect self-possession.
Reaching the opposite sidewalk, he looked back, and found that
Frank had retreated in dismay, and that the width of the street
was between them.

"Come across!" called out Dick.

"I don't see any chance," said Frank, looking anxiously at the
prospect before him. "I'm afraid of being run over."

"If you are, you can sue 'em for damages," said Dick.

Finally Frank got safely over after several narrow escapes, as he
considered them.

"Is it always so crowded?" he asked.

"A good deal worse sometimes," said Dick. "I knowed a young man once
who waited six hours for a chance to cross, and at last got run
over by an omnibus, leaving a widder and a large family