Jack paced on the sidewalk in front of the Manhattan lodging house. Fleet and Jinx had found him hawking headlines and told him what had happened to Bam, and what Fleet had overheard. He couldn't help but feel completely to blame. He had started the rumors that made Spot so jealous, and then sent Bam to live in Brooklyn, practically rubbing it in his nose that she was so respected. She hadn't even known.
"Heya Cowboy!" Race came up behind him. "Boy, did I have a good day! Won a bet at the tracks, and…."
"Did ya see Bam dere?" Jack grabbed Race by the shoulders, interrupting him with an urgent tone.
"Huh? Yeah, of course! I see her dere everyday," Race was bewildered by Jack's anxiety. "Well, I ain't see her dere da past couple days, but I saw her dere today." He added.
"I need ya ta do me a favor, Race. I need ya ta watch ova Bam for a while. Just ta make shoa she's alright."
"What? Why me?" Race exclaimed.
"You see her everyday at da tracks," Jack explained. "Dat way she won't notice dat we'se watching out for her."
"Why doncha ask Brooklyn ta watch her? Doncha t'ink dey see her more dan any of us?" Jack shook his head.
"I can't ask any of dem. I don't know who's in on it." Noticing Race's confusion, Jack told him about Bam's attack, and how Fleet had overheard Spot and Knox discussing it. Finally, Race reluctantly agreed to discreetly watch Bam.
"Tanks, Race. It won't be so bad…." Relieved, Jack draped an arm over Race's shoulder as the two boys walked into the lodging house. Race, on the other hand, was growing nervous at the thought of approaching Bam. Well, here's my chance to try to be nicer to her, Race thought with a laugh.