"No, thank you. I don't think it's a good thing for boys to smoke."
"I've read somewhere that it makes them stunted. And it isn't good for their brains."
"Ever since I was twelve, an' I'm goin' on sixteen now. I keep right on growin'. Course I ain't sayin' much of me brain, but den I guess I never had much."
"I think you are very bright and quick," said Dick with earnestness. "If you want to get on in the world I wouldn't think smoking would be good for you."
"Aw, all de kids does it. An' look at de men. Why, I seen a millionaire once an' he was smokin' a big black cigar."
"Perhaps; but I don't believe he smoked when he was a boy."
"I wish you'd give it up," went on Dick. "It must cost you something."
"Oh, not much. Only a nickel a day. Crimps! I knows some fellers dat smokes three packs a day."
"That is too many, even for a man, I would think. But if you only spent five cents a day, that's thirty-five cents a week."
"All dat?" inquired Jimmy. "I never s'posed it was so high. Maybe I'm spendin' too much."
"Thirty-five cents is nearly a quarter of the amount we pay a week for our room," went on Dick.
"Well, I'll cut down some," promised Jimmy, "but I ain't goin' t' stop altogedder."
Dick wisely forebore to pursue the matter any further. By this time they were at the place where the moving pictures were shown, and Dick, who had most of the money, though Jimmy kept some, bought two tickets.
"Dere's a friend of mine. I want t' speak t' him," said Jimmy as they entered the place, for the performance had not yet begun after the last intermission. The newsboy saw Sam Schmidt in the next aisle.
"Say, Dutchy," he asked in a whisper, "did youse see anyt'ing about dat reward fer me friend yet?"
"No, not yet," replied the German youth. "I keeps lookin' in der baber, but I ain't seed nottings about no rewards fer der poy. Dere is a rewards fer a mans, und vun fer a vomans, but not any for dot poy. But vait, don't give him up t' der bolice yet."
"I ain't goin t'. Him an' me is partners."
"Dot's right. Keep him safe py you, und mebby you'll git moneys for him. I'll keep on der vatch out."
"Dat's right, Dutchy. Say, youse ain't seen nuttin' of Mike Conroy lately, have youse?"
"Sure, I seen him und dot dog feller out in der street a vhile agos. I dinks dey vos comin's in here."