At any rate his door was closed
and he could not see them. None of the passengers, hurrying in to buy
tickets, paid any attention to the Bobbsey twins. So, hand in hand,
Flossie and Freddie went out of the station, and down the long stairs to
where they could hear the music of the hand piano.
It was being played by an Italian man in the street, almost under the
elevated station, and, as Flossie leaned over the stair railing to look
down, she cried out:
"Oh, there is a monkey, Freddie! The man has it on a string!"
"That's good. Do you see peanuts anywhere?"
"Yes, there are some at that stand near the bottom of the stairs. Don't
lose your five cents!"
"I won't!"
Freddie hurried down with Flossie. He bought a bag of peanuts, and the
children hastened across the street to where a little crowd of boys and
girls stood in front of the hurdy-gurdy, or hand piano, listening to the
music and watching the monkey. This will draw a crowd, even in New York,
where there are many more and stranger sights to be seen.
"Oh, isn't he cute!" cried Flossie, tapping her feet on the sidewalk in
time to the music.
"He's coming over this way," said Freddie. "I'm going to give him a
peanut."
"But don't let him get the whole bag."
"I won't. Here, Jacko! Have a peanut!" and Freddie held out one to the
hurdy-gurdy monkey.
The long-tailed animal lost no time in making a grab for it, and soon he
was chewing it hungrily.
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