Chapter one
Mary walked out of the train yards and began her search. She had never been to New York before and she soon realized it was a big place. Much bigger than Price, North Carolina.
"At least I have something to go on and I'm not just combing the whole city", she thought. "He told me he planned on working as a newsie. He had heard from some of his friends that a kid could get by selling newspapers in the city. That was 5 years ago, but at least it is somewhere to start."
As Mary was walking she listened to the sounds of the city surrounding her. She heard the idle chatter of passersby and the bargaining between street vendors and their customers. After walking for a while and just gathering her bearings, Mary heard something that piqued her interest.
"Rogue stallion breaks chains and runs rampant on Coney Island! Penny a Pape!"
A newsie was standing on a nearby street corner shouting headlines. Mary grinned. He couldn't have been more then 13. He wore tattered britches held up by a pair of suspenders and a faded blue button down shirt that was clearly a hand me down and something he had yet to grow into. The boy sold a paper to an elderly man and started to walk around the corner. Mary hurried to try and catch up to him, but her long brown skirt made fast movements difficult. As she turned the corner he was no where in sight. Mary sighed. A bright colorful fruit stand caught her eyesight. She walked towards it and picked up an apple.
"That'll be 3 cents, ma'am," said the stand owner.
"Oh, here," Mary replied as she reached into her pocket.
"Perhaps you can help me, I am looking for someone and I believe he is working selling newspapers. Could you tell me how to get to their office so I can talk with them?"
The man laughed a hearty laugh and said "ah lass, the newsies don't have any sorta office. They have distribution centers where they pick up their papers each morning and afternoon."
"Oh, well, where can I find one of those then?" She asked, her southern accent charming the street vendor.
"There's one around the corner in a few blocks, but I bet you'll do better going and asking around their lodging houses. That'd be where they spend the nights and most of their free time."
"Oh, well thank you so much," Mary replied with her appealing southern drawl. "Where is the nearest lodging house then?"
"Just walk down, lemme think, yes walk about 5 blocks down this street then turn left and go another 2 blocks or so and you should come to it. It will have a sign reading Queens Newsboys Lodging House. I suggest you get there or somewhere else you'd like to stay for the night soon though ma'am. It feels as if it is about to storm." True enough, the skies were darkening for the night and heavy clouds had begun to gather overhead.
"I will, thank you so much again." Mary handed the man her 3 cents and then followed his directions to the lodging house.
The building wasn't much to look at. It was clearly old and not very well kept. The people loafing around on the streets didn't have particularly friendly demeanors. In fact, Mary felt a bit apprehensive. The feeling since she had left the area with the fruit peddler had steadily gotten more hostile. However, this was her only lead and she simply had to find her brother. Then in the distance she heard a clap of thunder and remembered the storm. "I should hurry, I will need to find a room for the night if I don't find him," she thought to herself. She slowly walked up the few steps to the front door and knocked. There was no answer. She heard lots of shouting and laughter coming from inside. Slowly, Mary opened the door and peered inside. There were boys of all ages sitting around and Mary was a bit intimidated. She was not comfortable around large groups of men, but she also had the practice of making it seems that she was.
"Excuse me," she started "but may I ask you gentlemen something?" She was turning on her southern belle charm again. She opened the door fully and took a few small steps inside. She began scanning the faces in the room, hoping to see him.
"Sure ya can. Any lady as pretty as youse self can ask us anything she likes." The one who spoke sauntered up to her with a suggestive grin plastered on his face. It was reasons related to this that Mary disliked the position she was in.
"I am looking for someone."
"I'll be ya someone." She heard someone shout from a corner of the room.
These boys were looking at her in a way that was extremely uncomfortable. Mary decided to get it over with and then hopefully either find him or get out of there.
"I'm looking for a young man …"
