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He perceived that it would require patience to extract information from this source. "Try to think," he said more gently. "Can you remember if anyone ever belonged to the little boy they called Mikky? Was there ever any mother or father, or anybody that belonged to him at all." Again, she shook her head. "Niver as Oi knows on.
Take money in exchange for Mikky's bright presence? Never! It took a great deal of explanation to convince Buck that anything could be better "fer de kids" than Mikky, their own Mikky, now and forever. He was quick, however, to see where the good lay for Mikky, and after a few plain statements from Mr. Endicott there was no further demur on the part of the boy.
Professor Harkness went away from the office with a smile on his face and in his pocket three letters of introduction to wealthy benevolent business men of New York. Mikky was to go South with him the middle of the next week. Endicott went home that afternoon with relief of mind, but he found in his heart a most surprising reluctance to part with the beautiful boy.
They went to the great station on the morning when Mikky was to depart and stood shivering and forlorn until the train was called. They listened sullenly while Professor Harkness told them that if they wished to be fit to associate with their friend when he came out of college they must begin at once to improve all their opportunities.
"Perhaps they'll bring her in to see you sometime. Her father's very grateful. He thinks it showed wonderful courage in you to risk your life for her sake." But Mikky comprehended nothing about gratitude. He only took in the fact that the beautiful baby was in the house and might come there to see him.
The next morning an old college friend came into his office, a plain man with a pleasant face, who had not gone from college days to a bank presidency. He was only a plain teacher in a little struggling college in Florida, and he came soliciting aid for the college. Endicott turned from puzzling over the question of Mikky, to greet his old friend whom he had not seen for twenty years.
Whatever Mikky, their Prince, ordered, that must be done, and Buck was doing his level best, although for the life of him he couldn't see the sense in it. But thereafter none of "the kids" were allowed to use certain words and phrases, and swearing gradually became eliminated from their conversation.
So I turned it jes' in time an' took it mese'f. She seen how 'twas 'ith me that time at your house, an' she he'ped me git away. I sent her word I'd do the same fer her some day, bless her an' now you tell her we're square! I done the bunglin' fer her sake, but I done it fer you too, pard little pard Mikky!" "Oh, Buck!" Michael knelt beside the poor bed and buried his face in the coverlet.
Mikky studied his face. "But dey needs me now, de kids does," he said gravely, "Jimmie, he don't have no supper most nights less'n I share; and Bobs is so little he can't fight dem alley kids; n' sometimes I gets a flower off'n the florist's back door fer little sick Jane. Her's got a crutch, and can't walk much anyhow; and cold nights me an' Buck we sleeps close.
He did not understand the large words, and duty meant to him a fine sense of loyalty to those who had been loyal to him. "I got to stay wid de kids," he said. "Dey needs me." With an exasperated feeling that it was useless to argue against this calmly stated fact, Endicott began again gently: "But Mikky, you can help them a lot more by going to college than by staying at home."
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