He could barely talk, but the kid had his nerve! 'Where you going ?' I asked.

'To New York,' he said.

'Aw, what do you know of New York ?' I said.

And then, by golly, he busted right down.

'Gee!' he said, 'Gee! Can't you lemme alone ?' And then he beat it down the road! You could hear the kid breathe, he was hustling so! He's way off now, he's caught the train! He wants to be a cabin boy on a big ocean liner!" For a moment there was silence.