City of Orphans

Packwood visits Bartleby Donck’s apartment to discuss the details of the case. Bartleby once proposed to Packwood’s sister, but she turned him down because of his poverty. Packwood explains that Emma was accused of the theft and he had her arrested and taken to The Tombs. The watch is a Breguet, a highly valuable timepiece worn to display one’s wealth. Packwood has not found the watch but assumes she gave it to her boyfriend who was in on the theft. Bartleby asks why they have not questioned said boyfriend or looked for the watch in local pawnshops. Bartleby tells him that a thorough investigation must be undertaken to restore his reputation both as a luxury hotel and as a good human and suggests Maks be the detective. They will call him Maks Brown to conceal his identity.

Maks and his mother visit Willa, and she is in even worse condition than the last time. She is emotional at the sight of Mama, and they speak to each other in Danish. Maks sees Bartleby Donck speaking with another man in a heated conversation. Mama leaves to find food for Emma, and Maks tells her he has found someone who can help but he needs more details. She says she does remember an unusual detail from that day. As she was cleaning rooms on the ninth floor, a guest returned to his room. She stepped out as per the usual protocol, but he told her to keep working. As he left, he praised her work and said he would inform the management of her excellence. She told him her name and went on with her work. It was curious because guests rarely comment on the staff’s work ethic. Mama returns with only water, and it is time to say goodbye. Maks finds Willa outside and reports that he saw Donck. She saw him, too, as well as a few Plug Uglies who shouted threats at her.

At Newspaper Row, the newsies are all anxiously gathered discussing how the Plug Uglies attacked four newsies last night, beating them and burning their papers. A boy named Abe injured his arm. No one is interested in calling the police as they know they will not be of any help. The children meet with Donck again. He is coughing violently. He asks what evidence they have collected, and Maks tells Emma’s story of the man and his compliment to her. Donck asks if Emma has a boyfriend. Maks says no, but Donck replies, “The first rule of detection: Nobody tells anyone everything” (203). Maks must be on the lookout for every detail and learn to make connections to other details. Donck tells them of his meeting at The Tombs. Emma’s bail is set at $200, a sum that her family does not have. Donck relates the arrangement he has made with Packwood for Maks to work undercover at the Waldorf. He is to learn in which room the crime was committed. Willa must return to The Tombs to interview Emma and find out in which room she met the man. Donck tells them to leave and come back with more information. Maks is not sure he understands all the questions to ask Packwood at the Waldorf. Willa offers to help by selling his papers with Jacob while he is sleuthing. Maks is not going to tell his parents about the detective work. Bruno and his gang appear down the street. Maks and Willa watch the gang dip into a saloon called The Shirt Tail. They stay long enough to watch the gang leave, noting the direction.

Bruno is at the American Theatre for another meeting with his boss, Brunswick. He is late and wet from the weather and not permitted into the restaurant. Brunswick meets him in the lobby, demanding to know where he has been and if he has made any progress on his assignment. Bruno shows him the money they stole from the newsies. Brunswick is unimpressed and reiterates the time-sensitive nature of the mission by patting the pistol in his jacket. Bruno is weary of the man’s threats and tells him he needs to back off the pressure. They will get to the newsies soon enough. Bruno is incensed over his treatment by the man and decides to follow him home. He discovers Brunswick lives at the Waldorf Hotel. He devises a plan to steal his photo and the pistol so he can escape to Chicago to see the World’s Fair.