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198 eagerly through them for a sight of Ned.

It was perhaps one of the best plans the boys could have adopted, for in their eagerness to hear the "Bird Warbler" the unfortunate lads and men who were forced to the shelter of the places crowded close up around John Newton. In this way Bart and his companions could scrutinize at short range nearly every person in the throng.

"Aren't you getting tired of it?" asked Bart one evening when they were starting out for a large lodging house on the Bowery.

"I don't mind it a bit," replied John. "I'd do more than this to help find Ned. Besides, it's a good advertisement for me. You see the fellows in these places hear me, and when they see my name on the theatrical bill boards they'll come in. You can't get too much advertising when you're an actor," and John looked quite important.

There was a larger crowd than usual in the lodging house that night. John made his way to the front of the room. At first no one paid any attention to the entrance of himself and his friends. But, as soon as John began an imitation of a mocking bird, there was a stir.

"That sounds just like it used to when I was a boy!" exclaimed an old man. "Many and many's the mornin' I've heard them birds.