The next day, Blaze was feeling much better and even sold papes with Trick in the morning, but she went home and slept while the others sold in the afternoon. Blaze decided to give Jack a chance and tried to follow his orders.
By the next week Blaze was fully recovered and selling papes all day, usually with Trick, whom she had become good friends with, but sometimes with one of the twins, Race, or Blink. She had also been following Jack's orders "to a T" but she still couldn't understand why everyone followed him so readily. She wondered how long she would be able to put up with him, but he seemed to forget she had ever opposed him.
On Thursday night, the newsies were at Tibby's for dinner, as usual, when Spot rushed in.
"The Drake is back!" he announced as soon as everyone quieted down, "I saw him in Harlem, but he didn't see me." Spot walked over to Jack's table, pulled up a chair and sat down next to Blaze, obviously tired from running.
"Whoa, slow down Spot, what happened, exactly," said Jack.
"Well, I was in Harlem to talk to Ditmar, and when I started back to Brooklyn I saw him talking to another guy, who I didn't recognize, and I eavesdropped on them, but I didn't hear all of it anyway, the Drake said he was going to try to recruit guys from all over New York or something. He said he was going to take over the city with them and stuff. I don't know exactly what he meant, but it sounds far fetched to me, I know none of my guys will go with him, they're loyal to me and they all remember what he did last time."
"Wait, who is the drake and what did he do?" interrupted Blaze.
"He is one of the most feared newsies ever. He used to lead Harlem, but Ditmar stole it from him, when the Drake started losing his boys trust. After that the Drake took what boys he had and burned down the Harlem Lodging House. Then we all united against him, soaked his group and he fled to Chicago. If he's back, and talking to guys in Harlem, that's bad news. Spot is the only one who has any chance against him in a one on one fight." Jack explained as Spot inhaled a glass of water.
"I suggest, Jacky-boy, that you keep your young ones and anyone who can't fight off the street until we know what's happening, and maybe even until he's gone."
"Right, I agree." Jack stood up, getting everyone's attention and quieting them. "Listen up, the Drake's back and reorganizing. It's time for us to get rid of him once and for all. After today, you young ones and those of you who ain't good fighters, I want you to stay at the Lodging House; you have to protect it, as well as it protects you. Spot, me and those of you who are good fighters will go to the others and tell them what's happening. So, finish you food and once we're all done we'll go back to the Lodging House together. No one stray, stay close to the group. Now finish your food!" When Jack was done he sat down and everyone stuffed their food down their throats and they all left together.
Once everyone was inside, they closed and locked all the doors and windows. Spot was staying; he had told his clan about the Drake and that he (Spot) would be staying in Manhattan for the night. As he boys settled down, playing games and such, Jack turned to Blaze.
"I want you to stay here, no more selling until he's gone."
"What?" Blaze yelled, grabbing everyone's attention, "You think you can just order me around? No, I will come and go as I please. I have listened to you, just like everyone else for more than a week and I am getting tired of you acting like you're the king and the rest of us are just servants for you to order about! I'm my own person and I will do what I want! It's a free country!"
"I'm doing it for your own safety!"
"I don't care! Your ego has become bigger than even Spot's!"
"Maybe you should just leave. If you won't do as I say, then you aren't welcome here."
"Hey, if she leaves, I leave." Trick defended.
"Me too." Race chimed in, and the twins and a few others followed suit. It became clear that most everyone was behind Blaze.
"Look Jack, Blaze is right. Youse getting too big for your britches." Blink told him, and all around the room the boys nodded.
"Hold it, hold it!" Spot yelled, "This ain't the me to fight among ourselves, our enemy is the Drake."
Just then they heard a knock at the door, and Spot cautiously opened it and saw one of his own newsies at the door.
"The Drake came by to talk to you, but I told him you were here, in Manhattan, and he left to come here. But I ran ahead of him to let you know. Youse better get ready for him, he looked like he wanted something and he had some scabs with him."
Spot ushered the boy inside, got him a drink, he was obviously tired, and relayed the message to Jack and the others. Then they heard another knock at the door and Spot looked out to see the Drake.
"Hey Spot, I've come to make a bet with you and Jack," the Drake motioned for Spot and Jack to come outside and as they stepped out, every window opened so the newsies inside could here what was being said.
"What do you want, Drake," growled Spot. "What do I want? I want this Lodging House, it's the best in the city, and I want Brooklyn. But I know you won't give it to me, so I want to make a bet with you."
"What bet?" asked Jack suspiciously.
"Spot versus me in a one on one fight, no weapons, to the death. If I die, well, I'm dead; you won't have to worry about me no more. If Spot dies, I get the Manhattan Lodging House and Brooklyn, and the territory between here and there," there was a silence, then the Drake continued, "You can think about it over night, if it's a deal I want you two, five Manhattan newsies, and five Brooklyn newsies, as witnesses, to meet me and ten of my boys at the open space by the Bridge at noon." And with that, the Drake left, leaving Jack and Spot staring wide-eyed after him.
