“Oh, one of ’em had a quarrel with me,” replied Larry, not caring to go into details, “and he had a friend to help him.”
“Well, run along now, an’ don’t let me catch ye fightin’ agin,” said the officer, trying to speak severely. “If I do I’ll arrest ye. But,” he added, his admiration of Larry’s powers overcoming his instincts of duty, “that was a fine blow ye landed, all right.”
Larry lost no time in hastening to the office of the _Leader_. He was tired and panting from the fight and the excitement of it, but in spite of this he ran all the way and reached the city room out of breath.
At first he felt inclined to tell Mr. Emberg about the matter. Then he thought better of it, determining to fight his own battles. So, having delivered the copy, he hurried back for more, finding Mr. Newton had a bunch of it ready for him.
Larry was not molested on this trip, and he noticed that Peter was not among the copy boys, nor was Jim. They evidently did not dare return, fearing Larry would inform the policeman of their actions.
All that day, until the last edition went to press, Larry rushed back and forth with copy from the Aldermanic Chamber to the city room. He was very tired when night came.
“Why, Larry!” exclaimed his mother when he reached home. “How did you get that big lump over your eye? And your cheek is cut!” she added.
“Oh, another boy and myself had a little difference of opinion,” said Larry.
“I hope you weren’t fighting,” came from Mrs. Dexter.
“Well I--I--er had to defend myself against two of ’em,” said Larry. “It wasn’t exactly a fight, I guess.”
“I’m sure I’d worry if I knew you had fought.”
Larry did not want to deceive his mother, but he knew that to tell her the circumstances would only worry her, so he passed the matter over lightly.
The insurance investigation lasted for several days and Larry was kept busy carrying copy for Mr. Newton. On the second day Peter Manton reappeared, with a large discolored spot over his right eye where Larry had hit him. The former office boy on the _Leader_ did not glance at Larry, but, on the contrary, seemed anxious to escape observation. Jim did not come back.
“I’m not afraid of him,” thought Larry. But he decided it would be better to run no risks of being late with his copy, so he determined to avoid an encounter with Peter.