Brave Tom; Or, The Battle That Won

m his eyes for the time; and he sat long in the hot, smoky a

house that evening. There was a great deal of drinking and carousing going on, and

listen to the talk for a short while to learn that among them we

rather strangely, these men showed little disposition

o treated them with the greatest consideration; but they scrutinized the lad with a curious look, which caused him to wonde

for him, could he have formed the least idea of the course to take; but, besides being a stranger in the city, he knew that

d to make his way to the room, hoping

with the feverish condition of the lad, kept him awake another hour; but at last h

t of his little room Tom saw the f

hispered the terrified lad, strugg

w ye shtrike out so boldly last night and save the gal that had fallen overboa

this way?" asked Tom, whose fear greatly

I'm afeard ye are going to have tr

do you

r behind him, and sat down on the edge of

for any sort of a job. There are a couple of Italian cut-throats, and though I can't understan

dare try it in

nd go out, for they'll folly ye and garrote ye afore ye could raich a safe place. I would stay here and watch with ye, but that I've overstayed me time alriddy, and I'll catch thunder whin I git back home, 'cause I can't make the boss belave the raison why I staid. Here's a pistol," added the Irishman, shoving a five-shooter into the hand of the astonished lad, "

o was dressing himself. "But I don

ice between shooting him or him shooti

enough to advise Tom to change his quarters if he was spared until the morrow, and suggest

l asleep again that night, so, having fully dressed himse

ects with sufficient distinctness in the room, and he carefully sh

iend. He prayed Heaven to watch over the boy's footsteps and to prevent his wandering into any danger, while the f

chful lad heard some one ascending the stairs--a

ll, perhaps fifty feet in length, the apartment be

he sound made by the feet, which plainly belonged to tw

ng to their own

the footsteps paused directly in front of his own door, and

on of the boy, who grasped his pistol more

all they've got to

le his eyes were fixed upon the door, the iron bolt slowly mov

characters were given every facility the

nt back, the latch was lifted, and

he face veiled by a black, stringy beard, was thrust far enough within to show the shoulders. Directly behind appeared another face, p

ould be best to consider the matt

of all his earthly possessions, they found themselves confronted by a wid

in?" asked Tom, neve

t of the villains, in broken Eng

ow," was the reply, while the arm

n, he was unaware that a very slight pressure was enough to discharge it. Unconsciously he exerte

who, with a howl of pain, wheeled about and hurried

up his mind that the best thing he could do was

o go down the stairs, the sa

and filled with an uncontrollable aversion against staying any longer, he h

ans were invisible, and the little affray up-stairs seemed to have attracted no attention at all. The bartender was too much occupied to

fe lodging-place without going far, and he moved along the street, where

alked slowly, scrutinizing as well as he could the exterior of each building in sight,

rning into one which seemed to have an inviting look, when his atte

aboring along as tho

stopped and turned aside to let him

d that watch, will yo

the other shoved a gold watch and chain into his

o swift footed policemen came d

old of Tom's arm, and dealing him a stu

ardians of the law pouncing upon the lad as if he we

nstrated Tom, feeling that some

he head again with his club. "Ah, here is the watch on him! We've be