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"Horseshoe!" someone whispered the next morning.
Horseshoe sat upright and tried to rub the weariness from his eyes.
"Horseshoe!" someone whispered again.
"Wha . . . ?" Horseshoe asked in the darkness. "Who's there?"
"Me, Kid Blink." the voice replied.
"What're ya doin'? It's still dark!" Horseshoe whispered back.
"Gonna escape." Kid Blink replied.
Horseshoe bolted to his feet. "How?" he asked as he peered through the flap in the door that Kid Blink had opened up.
Kid Blink looked behind him, making sure no one was coming. "Like this." he said as he opened the door that separated Horseshoe and Kid Blink. Horseshoe walked out and saw a few others behind Kid Blink.
"What if we get caught?" Horseshoe asked warily.
"We's won't." Kid Blink said. "Follow me."
Horseshoe followed behind the two other kids. One was on crutches.
"I'll introduce ya when we get outta here." Kid Blink said when he saw Horseshoe staring at Crutchy and Ten-Pin. "For now, let's go."
The three snuck down the stairs, and past Snyder's office. They walked outside and began to go as fast as they could with Crutchy with them.
Once they were far enough away, Horseshoe stopped.
"That was too easy." he stated.
"What're ya talkin' about?" Ten-Pin asked.
"In Brooklyn, it woulda never have been that easy." Horseshoe said.
"Well, Brooklyn's a tougher neighborhood than Manhattan." Kid Blink replied as he began to walk again.
If ya say so, Horseshoe thought to himself. But I'se still think that escape was too easy.
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Jack awoke even before Kloppman came up to wake him.
He had racked his brain all night for a way to get Kid Blink and Horseshoe out of the Refuge, but hadn't come up with anything.
"Heya, Jack. How's it rollin'?" came a voice that startled Jack. He turned toward the voice.
"Blink?" Jack asked into the darkness.
"The one and only." Kid Blink remarked. Jack turned when he heard someone else come toward him.
Jack smiled. Only one person could make that kind of noise when he walked.
"Crutchy? Is that you?" Jack asked.
"Heya, Jack." Crutchy replied.
"Who else ya guys got 'ere?" Jack asked.
"Horseshoe and Ten-Pin." Kid Blink replied.
"You got Ten-Pin out?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Shaddup, Jack!" Racetrack called into the darkness.
"But how?" Jack asked, ignoring Race, but keeping his voice down.
"Easy." Kid Blink said.
"Too easy." Horseshoe remarked.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I think dat our escape was too easy." Horseshoe replied.
"Why?" Ten-Pin asked.
"I do. Nobody heard us. No guards by the door. Snyda not even there. Too easy. Somethin's up and I'se don't like it." Horseshoe said as he crossed his arms.
"You're jus' a worrier." Kid Blink said.
But Jack didn't think so. "Snyda wasn't even around?" Jack asked.
"Nowhere." Horseshoe answered.
"That don't sound like 'im." Jack replied.
"That's what I'se thought. I mean, I know da Manhattan Refuge ain't as tough as Brooklyn, but it ain't dat easy!" Horseshoe remarked.
"Well, there ain't nothin' we can do about it tonight. Let's go tah bed." Ten-Pin remarked.
"Okay." Crutchy said.
"Shoa." Kid Blink agreed.
"Alright." Horseshoe mumbled as he walked toward his bunk above Spot's. For a moment Horseshoe considered waking him up and telling Spot that he was alright, then Horseshoe thought better of it.
He'll find out tomorrow. Horseshoe thought as he dozed off to sleep.
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Pulitzer was in his office with the police chief, the mayor, and Seitz.
"We just can't barge in and break up this rally. We've got no legal cause." Captain MaSwain was saying.
"Is the fact that this rally is organized by an escaped criminal be cause enough Mayor?" Pulitzer asked.
"An escaped criminal?" the Mayor asked.
"Yes. He' been living under the alias of 'Jack Kelly'." Pulitzer said. "And he's already led a couple of his followers to be criminals as well. Here are two of them." Pulitzer pointed to Kid Blink and Horseshoe's picture.
"Two more have escaped from the Refuge with these two." Seitz added.
The Mayor considered that for a moment. "Well, we can quietly arrest them before the rally."
"No!" Pulitzer exclaimed. "I want the rest to see what happens when they dare to disobey. I want them to see justice and action!"
The Mayor thought.
"By the way I'm playing cards with a few other newspapermen. Gammon, Hearst. Perhaps you should join us and we can talk about the upcoming elections." Pulitzer said.
"I'd be honored to." the Mayor replied.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"David." Ester said the next morning.
"What?" David asked as he rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes.
"Time to get up." Mayer remarked and walked over to Les's bed. "You too."
"It's too early." Les mumbled.
"You said that you wanted to get up early today." Ester pointed out.
"No I didn't. David did." Les replied.
"Come on, Les. You want to see Jack?" David asked.
That got Les up immediately. "Yeah. I do."
"Come sit down and eat." Ester said.
"No thanks, Mama. We'll get something later. We're meeting Jack to discuss the rally tonight." David said.
"Alright." Ester replied as she watched the two get ready, then leave.
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"C'mon! Get up!" Kloppman yelled at the still sleeping newsies the next morning.
Horseshoe rolled over and looked at Pie Eater, who had the top bunk next to Horseshoe's. "Does he always do dis?" Horseshoe asked.
"Every single day." Pie Eater remarked as the newsies started to get out of bed.
"Spot." Horseshoe said, trying to wake up the Brooklyn leader.
Spot made a grunting noise, and turned away from Horseshoe.
"Spot!" Horseshoe said louder.
"Can't a guy get any sleep 'round 'ere?" Spot asked as he turned toward Horseshoe. "Horseshoe! When did you get outta the Refuge?"
"Last night." Horseshoe said. "I'se think we got out too easily."
"Why do ya say that?" Spot asked. Horseshoe told him about their escape.
"So, what do ya think?" Horseshoe asked. Spot shook his head.
"I ain't nevah been in the Manhattan Refuge, so I'se dunno." Spot answered.
Horseshoe shrugged.
Spot got out of his bed and walked over to Jack. "So, ya got any ideas fer the rally tonight?" Spot asked him.
"Don't remind me, Spot." Jack said.
"Remind ya of what?" Spot asked.
"The rally." Jack replied. "With all that's been goin' on lately, I ain't had time to think about it."
"You'd betta start." Spot replied as he and Jack made their way to the sinks.
Once the newsies were finished, they went outside to stretch their legs and goof around.
"Let's make shoa there ain't no scabbers buyin' papes." Dutchy said.
"Yeah!" Boots agreed.
They all rushed toward the distribution center, and were surprised to see that only a few scabs were there.
David and Les came before the newsies had another standoff.
"We don't need to soak the scabs!" David called when he saw the scabbers.
The newsies were unsure of what to do for a moment, but decided that they had to keep the papers from circulating and charged the scabbers.
The few scabs there turned as the newsies approached. For a moment they weren't sure whether to stand and fight, or run away.
Then, when seeing that they were drastically outnumbered, the scabs turned and fled.
"And we didn't even hafta soak the bums." Racetrack remarked with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah." Snoddy agreed.
The newsies all turned and began to walk in groups. One of the groups was Tumbler, Slider, Snipeshooter, Boots, and Les and they began to sword fight where their wooden swords.
Spot, Jack, David, Horseshoe, Mush, Kid Blink, and Racetrack were in another group.
"So, you thought of anythin' for the rally?" Kid Blink asked Jack.
"Yeah. A little." Jack replied.
"Good." Kid Blink remarked.
The seven began to discuss the plans for the rally, Horseshoe and Mush not saying much.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Jack, David, and Spot stood backstage getting ready to talk with the other newsies.
Horseshoe was there too. Kid Blink, Racetrack, Mush, and the others had all gotten seats.
"You ready tah go out?" Horseshoe asked them.
"Yeah, I'se guess." Jack replied.
"Good luck, gentlemen." Toby, the vendor, told them as he walked by.
"Thanks, Toby." David replied.
Horseshoe peeked out of the curtains. "Wow, they're really packin' in. We's gotta have almost all the newsie from New Yawk 'ere!"
David gulped. "Thanks for the information, Horseshoe." he remarked dryly.
"Ya nervous?" Jack asked David. Horseshoe went out to announce them.
"A little." David replied.
"Don't worry about it, Dave." Jack said.
"Here they are, out strike leadahs!" Horseshoe called.
"Dat's our cue." Jack remarked. He, Spot, and lastly, David walked onto the stage.
"Carryin' the banner!" Jack called. All the newsies began to cheer.
Outside, many police officers began to assemble.
"We's made it 'bout halfway!" Jack called. "And it's proly gonna get tougher as we go along. But ya know what I say? That's fine, we'll just get tougher too!"
The newsies began to cheer.
"But we also gotta get smart and listenin' tah Dave," Jack continued as he motioned for David to come up to the front. "And he says that violence ain't the answer. He says that we should stop soakin' da scabs!"
"But what are we supposed tah do to the bums, kiss 'em?" Racetrack asked from the audience. The newsies began to laugh.
"Listen, any scabber I see, I soak 'em. That simple." Spot remarked.
"No! That's what they want us to do!" David exclaimed. "If we start getting violent, we're doing what they want us to. Where playing into their hands!"
"Hey, they're gonna be playin' with my hands, alright?" Spot exclaimed. "'Cuz it ain't what they say, it's what we say and nobody's gonna listen to us if we don't make 'em!"
"No!" David exclaimed, but was droned out by the newsies who began to fight with each other.
"Look at this!" Jack somehow exclaimed above all the noise. "We're startin' tah fight each other! You know that's what the big shots want to see! They want tah see us to fight with each other so that we won't stick together! If we don't stick together, we ain't gonna win! So here's how it is, if we don't act together, then we're nothing. If we don't stick together, then we're nothin'! And if we can't even trust each other, then we're nothin'!"
"Tell 'em Jack!" Kid Blink called out from the balcony.
"So what's it gonna be?" Jack asked.
"We're with you, Jack." the newsies replied.
Jack turned to Spot. "What about you, Spot? What do you say?"
Spot looked out at the crowd, then at Jack. "I say, that what you say . . . is what I say."
Jack and Spot both smiled as they spit-shook.
The newsies cheered. They began to cheer louder when music began and Medda came on stage.
(High Times, Hard Times)
After the song ended, the newsies began to cheer and shout.
Jack, Horseshoe, and half the newsies were on the stage, while David, Spot, and the other half the newsies were in the audience. Horseshoe began to walk to the side of the stage, but no one noticed him.
They cheered so long that no one saw Snyder walk in.
Denton was the first to see Snyder. "Hello. I'm Bryan Denton from the New York Sun. I have heard about your work with the children and thought that perhaps you'd give me an interview." Denton said loud enough for David to hear.
"No. I have some work to do." Snyder replied.
David walked up to where Jack was.
"Jack!" David tried to call above the noise.
"Heya, Dave. This is great, ain't it?" Jack replied.
"No! Snyder's here!" David exclaimed.
"What?" Jack asked.
David grabbed Jack and pulled Jack's ear close to his mouth.
"It's Snyder!" David yelled into Jack's ear.
Jack's face paled. "Where?"
"Right there." David said as he pointed out Snyder. Jack looked at him as David went to warn Horseshoe, only to find that he was already gone.
"Let me get that correct, that's Snyder as in Snide," Denton was talking to Snyder, who in turn was looking at Jack. Snyder turned around to Denton, "Smile sir." Denton said as he flashed the camera. Snyder, being momentarily blind, didn't blow the whistle which gave Jack time to turn and run.
When Snyder regained his eyesight, he blew on his whistle hard. Police started pouring out from all over.
The newsies began to panic and began running to the nearest exits only to turn and run the opposite way when they saw police there.
Jack grabbed Sarah by the arm, and David grabbed Les and got them to an exit. They were about to go out that way when a ton of police officers chased them away.
Horseshoe suddenly reappeared, and ran toward Spot.
"C'mon Spot! You gotta get outta here!" Horseshoe exclaimed.
"No, you need tah. I'se will be alright. Get outta here!" Spot replied as he gave Horseshoe a shove in the opposite direction the police officers were running.
Horseshoe began to run, only to stop when a bunch of officers stood in front of him. Spot cringed and tried to make his way toward Horseshoe.
Spot, however, couldn't, but he was surprised to see the officers surround him and seem to protect him from the battering the other newsies were getting.
Spot looked twice when he saw an officer actually shake hands with Horseshoe. Something was going on.
Meanwhile, Denton couldn't believe the violence that he was witnessing. The officers were beating the newsies, who couldn't fight back. He couldn't believe the chaos either.
Denton looked over where a group of the youngest newsies were, huddled together tightly in a corner. Denton made a move to get over there, but about twelve police officers got there before him. The young boys saw them and tried to run away, only to find that they were to closely packed with the other newsies who were also trying to get away.
Denton cried out when the officers started swinging their sticks around, like a farmer reaping wheat, knocking half of those children to the ground. Some of the older newsies tried to help the fallen up, only to also be sent sprawling by an officer.
The others had to move out of the way as they tried to get by so they would trample them.
Denton lifted his camera to get a picture of this violence, only to be stopped by one of Snyder's men. He grabbed Denton's camera and threw it down to the ground, almost hitting three newsies with it.
Jack was desperately trying to get away as well. He tried to climb up the balcony, only to see three officers up there.
Then he tried to run across the stage, only to see Snyder. Medda's swing was nearby, so David climbed onto it.
"Push me!" he told Jack, who did. David kicked Snyder in the face. Jack turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Snyder tried to go after him, but David, then Skittery, Snitch, Itey, and a few others blocked Snyder's path.
Jack ran down the stairs toward the door.
"Jack!" called a voice. Jack turned to see Kid Blink standing on the stairs. "Are you alright?"
Jack nodded.
"C'mon. Let's get you outta here." Kid Blink replied as he and Jack ran outside only to find that their exit was blocked by police officers on horseback.
One rode up to Jack and Kid Blink. They both turned around to flee, but Jack wasn't quick enough. Kid Blink turned, and, when he saw his leader about to get caught, ran at the police officer and knocked him off his horse.
Jack turned back to Kid Blink, who was holding the officer down, but Kid Blink yelled at him.
"Beat it! Get outta here!"
Jack turned and ran off. Kid Blink started to get up, only to be caught by two police officers. One used his stick and hit Kid Blink in the good eye with it. Kid Blink fell.
As Kid Blink was being dragged away, he saw Horseshoe being taken outside the ring of police officers on horseback.
The odd thing was that the police officers seem to be happy with him. Horseshoe, on the other hand, looked bewildered.
Inside, Jack was desperately trying to get away from Snyder's men. Everywhere he turned a newsie was getting hit with something and dragged out.
This ain't happenin'! Jack cried to himself.
He ran up the stairs. He was almost at the top when he saw some of the officers on the top. One punched Jack in the chin and Jack flew backward into the arms of police waiting down at the bottom.
The rest was a blur as Jack was taken out, with the newsies desperately trying to free him from the police's grasp.
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"Where's he at?" Spot asked as he paced the Lodging House floor.
"I dunno, Spot." Snitch replied. "I have no idea where Horseshoe's at."
"Spot, if we're gonna go tah the court, we should proly go now." Racetrack told Spot.
"Okay. Let's go see if we can get Jacky-boy outta there!" Spot exclaimed as he and Jack's newsies walked outside toward the court.
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"Are any of you represented by council?" the judge asked at the courtroom.
"Racetrack, what's a council?" Boots asked in a whisper.
"I dunno." Racetrack whispered back.
"Hey yer honor, I object!" Spot exclaimed.
"On what grounds?" Judge E. A. Monahan asked.
"On the grounds of Brooklyn, yer honor." Spot remarked, sending the newsies into fits of laughter.
"I fine each of you $5. Or two weeks confinement in the House of Refuge." the judge said.
"Hey, we ain't got five bucks. We don't even got five cents. Hey yer honor, how 'bout I roll you for it, double or nothin'." Racetrack remarked. The newsies began to laugh again.
"Pay the clerk, move it along." the judge replied.
"Yer honor," a new voice said. The newsies turned and saw Denton, Les, and David coming into the courtroom. "I'll pay the fines. All of them."
"Pay the clerk." the judge repeated. Denton walked over to where the newsies were.
"I need to talk with you guys. It's important. Meet me at Tibby's. I'll be there soon." Denton told them.
David walked up to them. "Where's Jack?"
As if to answer that question, Jack was lead into the room wearing handcuffs. "Hey fellas!"
"Hey Cowboy! Nice shiner." Racetrack remarked as the other newsies were ushered out of the room.
Denton began to pay the fines when Jack was led toward him. "So, I guess we made all the papes. How'd me piture look?"
"None of the papers covered the rally. Not even the Sun." Denton replied.
"This is the case of Jack Kelly. He's charged with organizing a riot, assault, and resisting arrest." the bailiff said.
"Your honor, I'll speak for this young man." Snyder said as he walked up to the judge.
"Oh, you two know each other. Ain't that nice?" Jack said.
"Move it along, Warden Snyder." the judge replied as he eyed Jack.
"His real name is Francis Sullivan. He's mother's deceased, and his father is serving time in the state prison." Snyder told Judge Monahan. He then told of Jack's attempted escapes and escapades in the Refuge. "I request that he is returned to the Refuge until the age of 21, in hopes that we can yet guide him to a productive life."
"So ordered." the judge said.
"No!" Les exclaimed as Jack was led away.
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"Horseshoe!" someone whispered the next morning.
Horseshoe sat upright and tried to rub the weariness from his eyes.
"Horseshoe!" someone whispered again.
"Wha . . . ?" Horseshoe asked in the darkness. "Who's there?"
"Me, Kid Blink." the voice replied.
"What're ya doin'? It's still dark!" Horseshoe whispered back.
"Gonna escape." Kid Blink replied.
Horseshoe bolted to his feet. "How?" he asked as he peered through the flap in the door that Kid Blink had opened up.
Kid Blink looked behind him, making sure no one was coming. "Like this." he said as he opened the door that separated Horseshoe and Kid Blink. Horseshoe walked out and saw a few others behind Kid Blink.
"What if we get caught?" Horseshoe asked warily.
"We's won't." Kid Blink said. "Follow me."
Horseshoe followed behind the two other kids. One was on crutches.
"I'll introduce ya when we get outta here." Kid Blink said when he saw Horseshoe staring at Crutchy and Ten-Pin. "For now, let's go."
The three snuck down the stairs, and past Snyder's office. They walked outside and began to go as fast as they could with Crutchy with them.
Once they were far enough away, Horseshoe stopped.
"That was too easy." he stated.
"What're ya talkin' about?" Ten-Pin asked.
"In Brooklyn, it woulda never have been that easy." Horseshoe said.
"Well, Brooklyn's a tougher neighborhood than Manhattan." Kid Blink replied as he began to walk again.
If ya say so, Horseshoe thought to himself. But I'se still think that escape was too easy.
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Jack awoke even before Kloppman came up to wake him.
He had racked his brain all night for a way to get Kid Blink and Horseshoe out of the Refuge, but hadn't come up with anything.
"Heya, Jack. How's it rollin'?" came a voice that startled Jack. He turned toward the voice.
"Blink?" Jack asked into the darkness.
"The one and only." Kid Blink remarked. Jack turned when he heard someone else come toward him.
Jack smiled. Only one person could make that kind of noise when he walked.
"Crutchy? Is that you?" Jack asked.
"Heya, Jack." Crutchy replied.
"Who else ya guys got 'ere?" Jack asked.
"Horseshoe and Ten-Pin." Kid Blink replied.
"You got Ten-Pin out?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Shaddup, Jack!" Racetrack called into the darkness.
"But how?" Jack asked, ignoring Race, but keeping his voice down.
"Easy." Kid Blink said.
"Too easy." Horseshoe remarked.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I think dat our escape was too easy." Horseshoe replied.
"Why?" Ten-Pin asked.
"I do. Nobody heard us. No guards by the door. Snyda not even there. Too easy. Somethin's up and I'se don't like it." Horseshoe said as he crossed his arms.
"You're jus' a worrier." Kid Blink said.
But Jack didn't think so. "Snyda wasn't even around?" Jack asked.
"Nowhere." Horseshoe answered.
"That don't sound like 'im." Jack replied.
"That's what I'se thought. I mean, I know da Manhattan Refuge ain't as tough as Brooklyn, but it ain't dat easy!" Horseshoe remarked.
"Well, there ain't nothin' we can do about it tonight. Let's go tah bed." Ten-Pin remarked.
"Okay." Crutchy said.
"Shoa." Kid Blink agreed.
"Alright." Horseshoe mumbled as he walked toward his bunk above Spot's. For a moment Horseshoe considered waking him up and telling Spot that he was alright, then Horseshoe thought better of it.
He'll find out tomorrow. Horseshoe thought as he dozed off to sleep.
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Pulitzer was in his office with the police chief, the mayor, and Seitz.
"We just can't barge in and break up this rally. We've got no legal cause." Captain MaSwain was saying.
"Is the fact that this rally is organized by an escaped criminal be cause enough Mayor?" Pulitzer asked.
"An escaped criminal?" the Mayor asked.
"Yes. He' been living under the alias of 'Jack Kelly'." Pulitzer said. "And he's already led a couple of his followers to be criminals as well. Here are two of them." Pulitzer pointed to Kid Blink and Horseshoe's picture.
"Two more have escaped from the Refuge with these two." Seitz added.
The Mayor considered that for a moment. "Well, we can quietly arrest them before the rally."
"No!" Pulitzer exclaimed. "I want the rest to see what happens when they dare to disobey. I want them to see justice and action!"
The Mayor thought.
"By the way I'm playing cards with a few other newspapermen. Gammon, Hearst. Perhaps you should join us and we can talk about the upcoming elections." Pulitzer said.
"I'd be honored to." the Mayor replied.
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"David." Ester said the next morning.
"What?" David asked as he rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes.
"Time to get up." Mayer remarked and walked over to Les's bed. "You too."
"It's too early." Les mumbled.
"You said that you wanted to get up early today." Ester pointed out.
"No I didn't. David did." Les replied.
"Come on, Les. You want to see Jack?" David asked.
That got Les up immediately. "Yeah. I do."
"Come sit down and eat." Ester said.
"No thanks, Mama. We'll get something later. We're meeting Jack to discuss the rally tonight." David said.
"Alright." Ester replied as she watched the two get ready, then leave.
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"C'mon! Get up!" Kloppman yelled at the still sleeping newsies the next morning.
Horseshoe rolled over and looked at Pie Eater, who had the top bunk next to Horseshoe's. "Does he always do dis?" Horseshoe asked.
"Every single day." Pie Eater remarked as the newsies started to get out of bed.
"Spot." Horseshoe said, trying to wake up the Brooklyn leader.
Spot made a grunting noise, and turned away from Horseshoe.
"Spot!" Horseshoe said louder.
"Can't a guy get any sleep 'round 'ere?" Spot asked as he turned toward Horseshoe. "Horseshoe! When did you get outta the Refuge?"
"Last night." Horseshoe said. "I'se think we got out too easily."
"Why do ya say that?" Spot asked. Horseshoe told him about their escape.
"So, what do ya think?" Horseshoe asked. Spot shook his head.
"I ain't nevah been in the Manhattan Refuge, so I'se dunno." Spot answered.
Horseshoe shrugged.
Spot got out of his bed and walked over to Jack. "So, ya got any ideas fer the rally tonight?" Spot asked him.
"Don't remind me, Spot." Jack said.
"Remind ya of what?" Spot asked.
"The rally." Jack replied. "With all that's been goin' on lately, I ain't had time to think about it."
"You'd betta start." Spot replied as he and Jack made their way to the sinks.
Once the newsies were finished, they went outside to stretch their legs and goof around.
"Let's make shoa there ain't no scabbers buyin' papes." Dutchy said.
"Yeah!" Boots agreed.
They all rushed toward the distribution center, and were surprised to see that only a few scabs were there.
David and Les came before the newsies had another standoff.
"We don't need to soak the scabs!" David called when he saw the scabbers.
The newsies were unsure of what to do for a moment, but decided that they had to keep the papers from circulating and charged the scabbers.
The few scabs there turned as the newsies approached. For a moment they weren't sure whether to stand and fight, or run away.
Then, when seeing that they were drastically outnumbered, the scabs turned and fled.
"And we didn't even hafta soak the bums." Racetrack remarked with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah." Snoddy agreed.
The newsies all turned and began to walk in groups. One of the groups was Tumbler, Slider, Snipeshooter, Boots, and Les and they began to sword fight where their wooden swords.
Spot, Jack, David, Horseshoe, Mush, Kid Blink, and Racetrack were in another group.
"So, you thought of anythin' for the rally?" Kid Blink asked Jack.
"Yeah. A little." Jack replied.
"Good." Kid Blink remarked.
The seven began to discuss the plans for the rally, Horseshoe and Mush not saying much.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Jack, David, and Spot stood backstage getting ready to talk with the other newsies.
Horseshoe was there too. Kid Blink, Racetrack, Mush, and the others had all gotten seats.
"You ready tah go out?" Horseshoe asked them.
"Yeah, I'se guess." Jack replied.
"Good luck, gentlemen." Toby, the vendor, told them as he walked by.
"Thanks, Toby." David replied.
Horseshoe peeked out of the curtains. "Wow, they're really packin' in. We's gotta have almost all the newsie from New Yawk 'ere!"
David gulped. "Thanks for the information, Horseshoe." he remarked dryly.
"Ya nervous?" Jack asked David. Horseshoe went out to announce them.
"A little." David replied.
"Don't worry about it, Dave." Jack said.
"Here they are, out strike leadahs!" Horseshoe called.
"Dat's our cue." Jack remarked. He, Spot, and lastly, David walked onto the stage.
"Carryin' the banner!" Jack called. All the newsies began to cheer.
Outside, many police officers began to assemble.
"We's made it 'bout halfway!" Jack called. "And it's proly gonna get tougher as we go along. But ya know what I say? That's fine, we'll just get tougher too!"
The newsies began to cheer.
"But we also gotta get smart and listenin' tah Dave," Jack continued as he motioned for David to come up to the front. "And he says that violence ain't the answer. He says that we should stop soakin' da scabs!"
"But what are we supposed tah do to the bums, kiss 'em?" Racetrack asked from the audience. The newsies began to laugh.
"Listen, any scabber I see, I soak 'em. That simple." Spot remarked.
"No! That's what they want us to do!" David exclaimed. "If we start getting violent, we're doing what they want us to. Where playing into their hands!"
"Hey, they're gonna be playin' with my hands, alright?" Spot exclaimed. "'Cuz it ain't what they say, it's what we say and nobody's gonna listen to us if we don't make 'em!"
"No!" David exclaimed, but was droned out by the newsies who began to fight with each other.
"Look at this!" Jack somehow exclaimed above all the noise. "We're startin' tah fight each other! You know that's what the big shots want to see! They want tah see us to fight with each other so that we won't stick together! If we don't stick together, we ain't gonna win! So here's how it is, if we don't act together, then we're nothing. If we don't stick together, then we're nothin'! And if we can't even trust each other, then we're nothin'!"
"Tell 'em Jack!" Kid Blink called out from the balcony.
"So what's it gonna be?" Jack asked.
"We're with you, Jack." the newsies replied.
Jack turned to Spot. "What about you, Spot? What do you say?"
Spot looked out at the crowd, then at Jack. "I say, that what you say . . . is what I say."
Jack and Spot both smiled as they spit-shook.
The newsies cheered. They began to cheer louder when music began and Medda came on stage.
(High Times, Hard Times)
After the song ended, the newsies began to cheer and shout.
Jack, Horseshoe, and half the newsies were on the stage, while David, Spot, and the other half the newsies were in the audience. Horseshoe began to walk to the side of the stage, but no one noticed him.
They cheered so long that no one saw Snyder walk in.
Denton was the first to see Snyder. "Hello. I'm Bryan Denton from the New York Sun. I have heard about your work with the children and thought that perhaps you'd give me an interview." Denton said loud enough for David to hear.
"No. I have some work to do." Snyder replied.
David walked up to where Jack was.
"Jack!" David tried to call above the noise.
"Heya, Dave. This is great, ain't it?" Jack replied.
"No! Snyder's here!" David exclaimed.
"What?" Jack asked.
David grabbed Jack and pulled Jack's ear close to his mouth.
"It's Snyder!" David yelled into Jack's ear.
Jack's face paled. "Where?"
"Right there." David said as he pointed out Snyder. Jack looked at him as David went to warn Horseshoe, only to find that he was already gone.
"Let me get that correct, that's Snyder as in Snide," Denton was talking to Snyder, who in turn was looking at Jack. Snyder turned around to Denton, "Smile sir." Denton said as he flashed the camera. Snyder, being momentarily blind, didn't blow the whistle which gave Jack time to turn and run.
When Snyder regained his eyesight, he blew on his whistle hard. Police started pouring out from all over.
The newsies began to panic and began running to the nearest exits only to turn and run the opposite way when they saw police there.
Jack grabbed Sarah by the arm, and David grabbed Les and got them to an exit. They were about to go out that way when a ton of police officers chased them away.
Horseshoe suddenly reappeared, and ran toward Spot.
"C'mon Spot! You gotta get outta here!" Horseshoe exclaimed.
"No, you need tah. I'se will be alright. Get outta here!" Spot replied as he gave Horseshoe a shove in the opposite direction the police officers were running.
Horseshoe began to run, only to stop when a bunch of officers stood in front of him. Spot cringed and tried to make his way toward Horseshoe.
Spot, however, couldn't, but he was surprised to see the officers surround him and seem to protect him from the battering the other newsies were getting.
Spot looked twice when he saw an officer actually shake hands with Horseshoe. Something was going on.
Meanwhile, Denton couldn't believe the violence that he was witnessing. The officers were beating the newsies, who couldn't fight back. He couldn't believe the chaos either.
Denton looked over where a group of the youngest newsies were, huddled together tightly in a corner. Denton made a move to get over there, but about twelve police officers got there before him. The young boys saw them and tried to run away, only to find that they were to closely packed with the other newsies who were also trying to get away.
Denton cried out when the officers started swinging their sticks around, like a farmer reaping wheat, knocking half of those children to the ground. Some of the older newsies tried to help the fallen up, only to also be sent sprawling by an officer.
The others had to move out of the way as they tried to get by so they would trample them.
Denton lifted his camera to get a picture of this violence, only to be stopped by one of Snyder's men. He grabbed Denton's camera and threw it down to the ground, almost hitting three newsies with it.
Jack was desperately trying to get away as well. He tried to climb up the balcony, only to see three officers up there.
Then he tried to run across the stage, only to see Snyder. Medda's swing was nearby, so David climbed onto it.
"Push me!" he told Jack, who did. David kicked Snyder in the face. Jack turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Snyder tried to go after him, but David, then Skittery, Snitch, Itey, and a few others blocked Snyder's path.
Jack ran down the stairs toward the door.
"Jack!" called a voice. Jack turned to see Kid Blink standing on the stairs. "Are you alright?"
Jack nodded.
"C'mon. Let's get you outta here." Kid Blink replied as he and Jack ran outside only to find that their exit was blocked by police officers on horseback.
One rode up to Jack and Kid Blink. They both turned around to flee, but Jack wasn't quick enough. Kid Blink turned, and, when he saw his leader about to get caught, ran at the police officer and knocked him off his horse.
Jack turned back to Kid Blink, who was holding the officer down, but Kid Blink yelled at him.
"Beat it! Get outta here!"
Jack turned and ran off. Kid Blink started to get up, only to be caught by two police officers. One used his stick and hit Kid Blink in the good eye with it. Kid Blink fell.
As Kid Blink was being dragged away, he saw Horseshoe being taken outside the ring of police officers on horseback.
The odd thing was that the police officers seem to be happy with him. Horseshoe, on the other hand, looked bewildered.
Inside, Jack was desperately trying to get away from Snyder's men. Everywhere he turned a newsie was getting hit with something and dragged out.
This ain't happenin'! Jack cried to himself.
He ran up the stairs. He was almost at the top when he saw some of the officers on the top. One punched Jack in the chin and Jack flew backward into the arms of police waiting down at the bottom.
The rest was a blur as Jack was taken out, with the newsies desperately trying to free him from the police's grasp.
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"Where's he at?" Spot asked as he paced the Lodging House floor.
"I dunno, Spot." Snitch replied. "I have no idea where Horseshoe's at."
"Spot, if we're gonna go tah the court, we should proly go now." Racetrack told Spot.
"Okay. Let's go see if we can get Jacky-boy outta there!" Spot exclaimed as he and Jack's newsies walked outside toward the court.
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"Are any of you represented by council?" the judge asked at the courtroom.
"Racetrack, what's a council?" Boots asked in a whisper.
"I dunno." Racetrack whispered back.
"Hey yer honor, I object!" Spot exclaimed.
"On what grounds?" Judge E. A. Monahan asked.
"On the grounds of Brooklyn, yer honor." Spot remarked, sending the newsies into fits of laughter.
"I fine each of you $5. Or two weeks confinement in the House of Refuge." the judge said.
"Hey, we ain't got five bucks. We don't even got five cents. Hey yer honor, how 'bout I roll you for it, double or nothin'." Racetrack remarked. The newsies began to laugh again.
"Pay the clerk, move it along." the judge replied.
"Yer honor," a new voice said. The newsies turned and saw Denton, Les, and David coming into the courtroom. "I'll pay the fines. All of them."
"Pay the clerk." the judge repeated. Denton walked over to where the newsies were.
"I need to talk with you guys. It's important. Meet me at Tibby's. I'll be there soon." Denton told them.
David walked up to them. "Where's Jack?"
As if to answer that question, Jack was lead into the room wearing handcuffs. "Hey fellas!"
"Hey Cowboy! Nice shiner." Racetrack remarked as the other newsies were ushered out of the room.
Denton began to pay the fines when Jack was led toward him. "So, I guess we made all the papes. How'd me piture look?"
"None of the papers covered the rally. Not even the Sun." Denton replied.
"This is the case of Jack Kelly. He's charged with organizing a riot, assault, and resisting arrest." the bailiff said.
"Your honor, I'll speak for this young man." Snyder said as he walked up to the judge.
"Oh, you two know each other. Ain't that nice?" Jack said.
"Move it along, Warden Snyder." the judge replied as he eyed Jack.
"His real name is Francis Sullivan. He's mother's deceased, and his father is serving time in the state prison." Snyder told Judge Monahan. He then told of Jack's attempted escapes and escapades in the Refuge. "I request that he is returned to the Refuge until the age of 21, in hopes that we can yet guide him to a productive life."
"So ordered." the judge said.
"No!" Les exclaimed as Jack was led away.
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