Phil was quick to take a hint. He saw the menace in the shopkeepers

eyes, and, stopping abruptly, ran farther down the street, hugging his

fiddle, which he was afraid the angry tobacconist might seize and break.

This, to him, would be an irreparable misfortune and subject him to a

severe punishment, though the fault would not be his.

Next he strolled into a side street, and began to play in front of some

dwelling-houses. Two or three young children, who had been playing in

the street, gathered about him, and one of them gave him a penny. They

were clamorous for another tune, but Phil could not afford to work for

nothing, and, seeing no prospects of additional pay, took his violin,

and walked away, much to the regret of his young auditors, who, though

not rich, were appreciative. They followed him to the end of the block,

hoping that he would play again, but they were disappointed.

Phil played two or three times more, managing to obtain in all

twenty-five cents additional. He reached the corner of Thirteenth Street

just as the large public school, known as the Thirteenth Street School,

was dismissed for its noon intermission.