Brooklyn's Queen: A Spot Conlon Love Story

Chapter 13: Perfectly Toned Body

We got to the bottom of the steps and saw Mr. Snyder walk in through the door. All the newsies stopped what they were doing and watched him go by. Skittery and Snipeshooter mocked him behind his back. This made me laugh a bit. I pushed my way to the front of the boys to see what Snyder was doing here. 

He walked up to Mr. Kloppman's desk, and picked up a book that was sitting on top. 

Mr. Kloppman walked over to him, and pulled the book from his hands, "Excuse me, can I help you?"

Mr. Snyder looked up and gave him a nasty smile. "You have a boy who calls himself Jack Kelly? I wish to see him." Race and Kid started to walk closer to Mr. Snyder. 

My brother? Oh god, how did he find him? Jack can't go back to the refuge. All of my attention was on Mr. Snyder and Mr. Kloppman. 

Mr. Kloppman looked over at me for a second, I starred back in fear.  "Jack Kelly, Jack Kelly... Never herd of him."

The rest of the newsies now all were into the conversation between the two. They all got up and walked over to the men, crowding around. 

"Any of you boys ever herd of Jack Kelly?" Mr. Kloppman yelled. 

All the boys shook their heads. "Nope." I heard a few say.

"That's an unusual name for these parts." Snipeshooter said coldly to Mr. Snyder. He stared at him and crossed his arms. 

"Oh you mean Jack Kelly?" Race spoke up. He walked right up to the evil man. "Yeah, he was here, but put an egg in his shoe an beat it." 

This erupted laughter in the crowd. Just then, Jack walked in. Mush stopped him quickly and pointed out Snyder. Jack took a step back into the crowd. I looked over at him and he looked at me. Then he saw Snyder turn the other way to look at Race. Jack, the dare devil that he was, took this opportunity to make some more fun out of the situation.

He stepped up to the front of the crowd and got behind Snyder. 

"I have reason to believe that he is an escaped prisoner, possibly dangerous." Mr. Snyder turned back to face Mr. Kloppman. 

"Dangerous?" Mr. Kloppman asked. Jack stood behind the man, held his hand up to his chest, and mouthed the words "me?" I chuckled a bit, and so did the other boys. We pushed each other around. 

 "Oh, I better look in my files. Come around, this way please." Mr. Kloppman told Snyder. Bless his soul, he's a saint. 

"And there's one more person I am looking for." We all stopped laughing, confused, who else? "Jack Kelly is believed to have a brother, Finn, I think the boys name is?"

My eyes went back to Jack. He looked as surprised as me. No one really knows me besides the newsies, so how did my name get to Snyder?

"I have gotten word that he was here at this residence as well. I would like to take him with me, he is one of the master minds behind this whole strike, as well as Jack. They will be quite nice in my house."

Race came over to me and pushed me behind him. He pointed his head to the back door, and said, "Get atta here for the night. You's never know if he'll come back. We's got you covered." 

I nodded and pushed my way back through the crowd of boys. Mush put his hand on my shoulder and led me to Jack. 

"You's will be safe spendin' the night somewhere else. He could come back for ya." 

"Yeah, we'll be fine, don't worry." Jack said. 

"Thanks Mush, tell everyone else thanks too." I said. He nodded and we headed to the back door.