*****

*****

Kloppman walked up the squeaky staircase to wake up the newsboys. THe first bunk closest to the door was Jack Kelly's. He stepped up to the bunk.

"Hey, Cowboy. Hey, wake up. Carry the banner." He said as he shoved Jack's back. Jack mumbled and rolled over to face Kloppman. Kloppman was caught by surprise. "Cowboy, you got a bloody nose. What happened? I don't see any bruises."

"Wha-?" Jack wiped a hand across his face, and saw that his hand was bloodied. He jumped off his bunk to get washed up, and Kloppman continued to wake the other newsies."

"Heya, Jack. Woah, pink water. You run into the Delancey brothers last night?" Racetrack asked as he walked up to Jack.

"Nah... must be the dry air." Jack answered.

"Yeah, it happens."

~~/~@

"Hey, Weasel, I think I'll take fifty papes today," Jack said as he slapped down his money.

"Only fifty?"

"Well, I got a headache. Don't feel much in the selling mood." Jack admitted. He took his papers and waited for David to get his.

"So, you're feeling ill?" David asked him.

"Ehh... ya can't always feel great." Jack shrugged. David nodded in agreement and they both went to sell their papers.

After about two hours, Jack asked to take a break.

"Yeah, fine by me. You never break except when I beg you to. What's going on?" David asked.

"I'm just not feeling good. Kinda hot actually." He said truthfully.

"Maybe we should just head to the lodge so you can rest." David suggested.

"Nah, I'm fine. See?" Jack stood up and walked on his way to sell the rest of the papers.

By lunch time, they were both exhausted and sold their last paper on the way to the restaraunt. They saw everyone standing outside and looked at each other with questions in their eyes.

"What's going on?" David asked them as they approached.

"Some people had reservations. They're too full for us." Mush answered with an annoyed tone to his voice.

"We'll just have to go back to the lodge for some food." Jack said. Everyone agreed with him, and together they all went.

~~/~@

That night everyone was sitting around the lodge conversing or playing poker with Race. Jack sat on his bunk overlooking the rest of the newsies with David.

"Hey, Jack... your nose is bleeding." David pointed out.

"Oh crap, again?" Jack jumped off his bunk to go wash his face and stop the bleeding.

"Hey, what did Jack mean 'again'?" David asked.

"Oh, this morning he had a bloody nose also." Race said.

"He did?"

"Yeah... said it must be the dry air."

Just then, Jack walked out of the washroom looking pale and shaky.

"Hey, Jack what's wrong?"Much, who was next to the door, asked.

"I dunno... I don't feel good." And with that, Jack passed out. He was caught by Mush.

"Hey!" Mush yelled to get everyone's attention. The others newsies rushed over to help. David and Mush both laid Jack on the bunk below his own.

"Hey, what's wrong with Jack" Les asked. He'd been watching the poker game and now stood beside the bed where Jack was lying pale and unconscious.

"I don't know, Les." David answered him. "Hey, Race, can you take Les home for me?"

Race nodded and led the kid out of the lodging house. On his way out, he told Kloppman what had happened. Kloppman caled the doctor and then rushed up to the bunk room.

"Let me see him." He instructed the newsies. They all parted to make way for Kloppman. He sat on the bed and inspected Jack. "He only took fifty papes today." Mush supplied.

"Yeah, and he seemed really tired all day... and he complained of a headache once." David added.

"Ok, thank you." Kloppman put a hand on Jack's forhead, but felt no fever. Then Jack started to wake.

"Hey Jack, you scared us." Kid Blink said from behind David.

"What happened... and why is everyone starin' at me?"Jack asked, confused.

"You passed out. We were all worried." David answered. Kloppman shooed away all the newsies except for David, Mush, and Crutchy.

"Cowboy, I got the doctor on his way. He'll be checking you out. See what's wrong." Kloppman told him.

"Yeah, ok." Jack agreed softly.

"No resistance? No insisting that you are fine? You never admit to being sick." Crutchy said in surprise.

"Yeah, well I never passed out and had bloody noses before for no reason. And I never felt this bad." Jack groaned.

"What exactly feels bad?" David asked.

"My head. It feels like it's gonna explode."

"Well, the doctor will be here soon, Cowboy." Kloppman told him.