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〃It's a great deal of trouble to send everything；〃 said the
clerk； impertinently。
〃This bundle is too heavy for me to carry；〃 said the widow；
deprecatingly。
〃I suppose we can send it；〃 said the clerk； ill…naturedly； 〃if
you insist upon it。〃
Meanwhile； though he had not observed it； his employer had
approached； and heard the last part of the colloquy。 He was
considered by some as a hard man； but there was one thing he
always required of those in his employ； that was to treat all
purchasers with uniform courtesy； whatever their circumstances。
〃Are you objecting to sending this lady's bundle？〃 said Mr。
Barclay； sternly。
The clerk looked up in confusion。
〃I told her we would send it；〃 he stammered。
〃I have heard what passed。 You have been deficient in
politeness。 If this happens again； you leave my employ。〃
〃I will take your address；〃 said the clerk； in a subdued tone。
Mrs。 Hoffman gave it； and left the store； thankful for the
interference of the great merchant who had given his clerk a
lesson which the latter； as he valued his situation； found it
advisable to bear in mind。
CHAPTER XII
THE BARREL THIEF
While Mike Donovan was engaged in his contest with Paul； his
companion had quietly walked off with the shirt。 It mattered
very little to him which party conquered； as long as he carried
off the spoils。 His conduct in the premises was quite as
unsatisfactory to Mike as it was to Paul。 When Mike found
himself in danger of being overpowered； he appealed to his
companion for assistance； and was incensed to see him coolly
disregarding the appeal； and selfishly appropriating the booty。
〃The mane thafe！〃 he exclaimed after the fight was over； and he
was compelled to retreat。 〃He let me be bate； and wouldn't lift
his finger to help me。 I'd like to put a head on him； I would。〃
Just at that moment Mike felt quite as angry with his friend；
Jerry McGaverty； as with his late opponent。
〃The shirt's mine； fair；〃 he said to himself； 〃and I'll make
Jerry give it to me。〃
But Jerry had disappeared； and Mike didn't know where to look for
him。 In fact； he had entered a dark alleyway； and； taking the
shirt from the paper in which it was wrapped； proceeded to
examine his prize。
The unusual size struck him。
〃By the powers；〃 he muttered； 〃it's big enough for me
great…grandfather and all his children。 I wouldn't like to pay
for the cloth it tuck to make it。 But I'll wear it； anyway。〃
Jerry was not particular as to an exact fit。 His nether garments
were several sizes too large for him； and the shirt would
complete his costume appropriately。 He certainly did need a new
shirt； for the one he had on was the only article of the kind he
possessed； and was so far gone that its best days； if it ever had
any； appeared to date back to a remote antiquity。 It had been
bought cheap in Baxter street； its previous history being
unknown。
Jerry decided to make the change at once。 The alley afforded a
convenient place for making the transfer。 He accordingly pulled
off the ragged shirt he wore and put on the article he had
purloined from Paul。 The sleeves were too long； but he turned up
the cuffs； and the ample body he tucked inside his pants。
〃It fits me too much；〃 soliloquized Jerry； as he surveyed himself
after the exchange。 〃I could let out the half of it； and have
enough left for meself。 Anyhow； it's clane； and it came chape
enough。〃
He came out of the alley； leaving his old shirt behind him。 Even
if it had been worth carrying away； Jerry saw no use in
possessing more than one shirt。 It was his habit to wear one
until it was ready to drop off from him； and then get another if
he could。 There is a practical convenience in this arrangement；
though there are also objections which will readily occur to the
reader。
On the whole； though the shirt fitted him too much； as he
expressed it； he regarded himself complacently。
The superabundant material gave the impression of liberal
expenditure and easy circumstances； since a large shirt naturally
costs more than a small one。 So Jerry； as he walked along the
Bowery； assumed a jaunty air； precisely such as some of my
readers may when they have a new suit to display。 His new shirt
was quite conspicuous； since he was encumbered neither with vest
nor coat。
Mike； feeling sore over his defeat； met Jerry the next morning on
Chatham street。 His quick eye detected the improved state of his
friend's apparel； and his indignation rose； as he reflected that
Jerry had pocketed the profits while the hard knocks had been
his。
〃Jerry！〃 he called out。
Jerry did not see fit to heed the call。 He was sensible that
Mike had something to complain of； and he was in no hurry to meet
his reproaches。
〃Jerry McGaverty！〃 called Mike； coming near。
〃Oh； it's you； Mike； is it？〃 answered Jerry； unable longer to
keep up the pretense of not hearing。
〃Yes； it's me；〃 said Mike。 〃What made you leave me for last
night？〃
〃I didn't want to interfere betwane two gintlemen；〃 said Jerry；
with a grin。 〃Did you mash him； Mike？〃
〃No；〃 said Mike； sullenly； 〃he mashed me。 Why didn't you help
me？〃
〃I thought you was bating him； so； as I had some business to
attind to； I went away。〃
〃You went away wid the shirt。〃
〃Yes； I took it by mistake。 Ain't it an illigant fit？〃
〃It's big enough for two of you。〃
〃Maybe I'll grow to it in time；〃 said Jerry。
〃And how much are you goin' to give me for my share？〃 demanded
Mike。
〃Say that ag'in；〃 said Jerry。
Mike repeated it。
〃I thought maybe I didn't hear straight。 It ain't yours at all。
Didn't I take it？〃
〃You wouldn't have got it if I hadn't fit with Paul。〃
〃That ain't nothin' to me；〃 said Jerry。 〃The shirt's mine； and
I'll kape it。〃
Mike felt strongly tempted to 〃put a head on〃 Jerry； whatever
that may mean； but； as Jerry was a head taller already； the
attempt did not seem quite prudent。 He indulged in some forcible
remarks； which； however； did not disturb Jerry's equanimity。
〃I'll give you my old shirt； Mike；〃 he said； 〃if you can find it。
I left it in an alley near the Old Bowery。〃
〃I don't want the dirty rag；〃 said Mike； contemptuously。
Finally a compromise was effected； Jerry offering to help Mike on
the next occasion； and leave the spoils in his hands。
I have to chronicle another adventure of Jerry's； in which he was
less fortunate than he had been in the present case。 He was a
genuine vagabond； and lived by his wits； being too lazy to devote
himself to any regular street employment； as boot blacking or
selling newspapers。 Occasionally he did a little work at each of
these； but regular； persistent industry was out of his line。 He
was a drone by inclination； and a decided enemy to work。 On the
subject of honesty his principles were far from strict。 If he
could appropriate what did not belong to him he was ready to do
so without scruple。 This propensity had several times brought
him into trouble； and he had more than once been sent to reside
temporarily on Blackwell's Island； from which he had returned by
no means improved。
Mike was not quite so much of a vagabond as his companion。 He
could work at times； though he did not like it； and once pursued
the vocation of a bootblack for several months with fair success。
But Jerry's companionship was doing him no good； and it seemed
likely that eventually he would become quite as shiftless as
Jerry himself。
Jerry； having no breakfast； strolled down to one of the city
markets。 He frequently found an opportunity of stealing here；
and was now in search of such a chance。 He was a dexterous and
experienced barrel thief； a term which it may be necessary to
explain。 Barrels； then； have a commercial value； and coopers
will generally pay twenty…five cents for one in good condition。
This is enough； in the eyes of many a young vagabond； to pay for
the risk incurred in stealing one。
Jerry prowled round the market for some time； seeking a good
opportunity to walk off with an apple or banana； or something
eatable。 But the guardians of the stands seemed unusually
vigilant； and he was compelled to give up the attempt； as
involving too great risk。 Jerry was hungry； and hunger is an
uncomfortable feeling。 He began to wish he had remained
satisfied with his old shirt； dirty as it was； and carried the
new one to some of the Baxter street dealers； from whom he could
perhaps have got fifty cents for it。 Now； fifty cents would have
paid for a breakfast and a couple of cigars； and those just now
would have made Jerry happy。
〃What a fool I was not to think of it！〃 he said。 〃The old shirt
would do me； and I could buy a bully breakfast wid the money I'd
get for this。〃
Just at th