December 21: "Carriage" (from W. Y. Traveller)
Part 2
The boys scampered out of the drafty house, cheering a whooping, hopes for their Christmas mission high. There were too many of them to hop on the back of a single carriage or cab without being noted, so Wiggins split them into pairs and instructed them to meet up at the east end of the market. Tom and Bailey were paired up and hopped onto the back of a hansom heading in the right direction.
"What do you s'pose we ought to get Mr. 'Olmes to cheer him up?" Tom asked in a hushed voice.
Bailey shrugged. "Not for sure yet."
"We don't have much money."
Bailey snorted. "Who said anything about needing money?"
Tom's brow furrowed. "But Dr. Watson made us promise! And Mr. 'Olmes would be disappointed if'n 'e knew we'd stolen 'im something, when 'e's been trying to get us to do honest work."
Bailey shook his head. "You're too innocent, Tom. What Mr. 'Olmes doesn't know won't hurt 'im. And anyway, a real honest living is out of reach for the likes o' me. Your nan takes care of you, but me? I've got nobody."
"Nobody but Mr. 'Olmes and Dr. Watson," Tom corrected.
"They help," Bailey said. "But a boy's gotta eat every day. If'n I gotta steal to eat, then it's a thief I'll be."
To be continued...