But how? Would the railroad take him,
if he explained? Or would the people on the way give him work? He had
got some food at last, but only by begging. And was he expected to
beg?
There came footsteps outside. A man strode into the doorway and took
hold of the door and tried it. Then he turned to go out. Samuel moved
his foot out of the way.
"Hello!" said the man. "Who's that?"
"Only me," said Samuel.
"Get up there," commanded the other.
He got up and a hand seized him by the collar. "Who are you?"
He was jerked into the light before he had a chance to reply. "More
bums!" growled the voice; and Samuel, terrified, saw that he was in
the grasp of a policeman.
"Please, sir, I'm not doing any harm," he began.
"Come," said the policeman.
"Where to?" he cried.
But the other merely jerked him along. A sudden wild horror seized
Samuel. "You're not going to arrest me!" he exclaimed.
"Sure," said the other. "Why not?"
"But," he exclaimed, "I've not done anything. I can't help it. I--"
He started to drag back, and the man twisted a huge hand, in his
collar, choking him. "Do you want to be hit?" he growled.
So Samuel went on. But sobs shook him, convulsive sobs of terror and
despair, and tears of shame rolled down his cheeks. He was going to
jail!
"What's the matter with you?" said the policeman after a bit. "Why
don't you be quiet?"
"You've no business to arrest me," wailed the boy.
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