Ch. 1

It had been a good day for Spot and his newsies. He had managed to sell all his papes in record time as usual and they had spent the rest of the day swimming and goofing around. The sun was just starting to set as he got back to the lodging house. He was just about to head in when he heard a small whimper and harsh laughter. He whipped his head around and realized it had come from the alley to his left. His hand tightened around his cane almost subconsciously as he walked towards the laughter.

"Please stop," she pleaded as the man pushed her against the wall and started to undo her shirt buttons. She tried to fight him off but he punched her in the face and started laughing. She heard footsteps approaching, but was too scared to look up until she heard a new voice.

"Get away from her!" Scatter looked up and saw him. Her knight in shining armor. She had to warn him, this guy had a knife.

"Be careful! He's got a knife!" The man released her and faced the young man in front of him. They stared at each other, one pair of eyes drunk and shifty, the other pair cold and focused. Spot stepped toward the guy and grabbed the arm that was holding the knife. He knocked the knife out of his hand and slammed him against the wall.

When he stepped toward the guy again as he was lying on the ground, the man stood up and bolted down the street. He watched the guy run away until he heard crying behind him and remembered the girl. He turned around and studied her for a moment. She had blond hair and was sporting the beginnings of a black eye and a bloody nose. She was a delicate little thing, he could tell that much. He stood there for a moment before speaking.

"What's your name, girl?"

She looked up at him as she wiped away her tears. "My name is Margaret Elizabeth Collins. Most call me Scatter though.

"My name is Spot, Spot Conlon." I'm the leader of the Brooklyn newsies."

"I've heard of ya." She stood up, her knees shaking a bit. She spit in her hand and stuck it out. "Good to finally meet ya, Spot."

He also spit in his hand and grabbed hers in a firm shake. "Same here, Scatter. So how did you end up on my territory?"

She took a deep breath as she thought about the past 6 hours.

"I got lost trying to find a guy they call Cowboy. Then that man started following me and before I knew it, I was in this alley."

Spot smirked as he listened to her story. She glanced at him and smiled shyly back at him.

"Well Scatter, it just so happens I know the guy you're looking for." He's over in Manhattan and I can take you there if you want."

Relief crossed her face and she threw her arms around him, taking him by surprise. He stood there as she was hugging him, not sure what to do. He had never been hugged like that before, most people were too afraid of him to dare touch him. She finally let go and he stared down at her.

"Ok, Scatter, I'm gonna take you to Jack tomorrow, but its getting late and your gonna need a safe place to sleep tonight. You can come and stay with me for the night."

She was once again overcome with relief and tried to hug him again, but he jumped back. She looked up at him startled. He shrugged.

"I don't really do the whole hugging thing, its part of my image."

"Oh, ok."

"Let's head in."

He started walking and she followed him into the lodging house.