The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-24 00:00:00

THE MARKETS.

MARK-LANE.
A very quiet business has been doing. Supple Of
anPl46:
dice have been short, but about equal to the der St
Fresh arrivals due during the week are tolerably goau„e'eceli,
New York during the week a slight improvement 11.' est 4
Sep, -rted. E iglish wheat has changed hands quietlY' fa
has been about the same in value as on Fli'l°Y* vie6B
foreign wheat a moderate demand prevailed at
currencies Flour was much in the same Posi'e
whe tt, business being quiet on firmer terms. see rlostiest,
firm. Both .valeing and grinding produce was in re6„010
and 3d per quarter more money was occasion
Oats were in fair demand, and Russian sorts were:ssi
quarter dearer on the week. maize was tolerabil .4-04
the spot, but weak for arrival. Beans and peas were
without change, Lentils were Is dearer.
MF.TROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. est
The total imports of foreign stock into London Ins„tststdoll
%mount:el to 6171 head. In the corresponding 1L;
lent year we received 14 812 ; in 1882, 9223: 11„1.M1
52i8; in leBo. 4630; in 1876, 11,166 ;in 1878, 6631; 10:
8057 ; aid in 1876, 12,194. At Liverpool were see° ' 35,
hi asts from Baltimore, 808 beasts from Boston a,,,t0
beasts and '.85 sheep from Portland; and at Soutlin_asiO,
16 beasts from Jersey and Guernsey. The cattle ter;o
quiet, without any particnlar feature. EupPlfes °jets
lea's°, but were equal to requirements. The rose _
beasts from our own g'azing districts were 81°L`
slightly tett er trade has prevailed, but at the s 0,5
the market has not been animated. The best Se,°,
er,ses realised Is 6d to 5s Bct Der 81b. On the forog;,eie:
of the market there was a short supply of beast% ster'po
sold slowly at previous currencies. ;Le sheen Pes° pricsa
rather better tilled. The trade was very dull, alsn's B:Ss
were mainteined with diffierdty. The best ,`"-S5
half-breds ma-'e 5s 10d to 6's per 4-lb. Calves
were quoted at late prices. Coarse and ir.feriors; 111;
Is to 4s 6<l; scond quality ditto, 4s to 58 ITTiv7‘s.B
oxen, 5s 4el to 5s 6.1; ditto Sects, ke 5s 6d t,°,4o.lsEs
cearse and inferior sheep, is to 59 4<l; secon' 58 es
ditto, 5,4 d to is 80; prime coarse-weeded ditt3; poto
to 5s 10d; prime Southdown ditto, 5s 10d t°
coart,e calves, 5s to 5s 6d ; prime small ditto+, perUli:
5s 10d; la, ge hogs, Is 4d to 31 8d; neat snlaiss' 01140;
3s Scl to 4e per Sib to sink the ofial To Iv< 'se&
Beasts, 2430; sheep and lambs, 10,60 • °°;o: kiss;
milch cows, 50. F reien : Beasts, 170; calves, -S3O beas,o)
the Midland and Heine Counties we received
from Nerfolk, SuiTolk and Besse, 400; from Se°
and from Ireland, 100 beasts.
Snia' °I)Fel
METRO POLIT A.N ME AT MARKET'
There was a full supp'y of all kinds on s se stet),
a'mest entire absence of trade. Inferior betra, tovest,
2s 40 ; middling ditto, 3s Ed to 4s prime led
4s 2.1 to 4s 60; prime small ditto, 4's 6d te _ so
ed to Ss; itifericr mutton, 33 to Is 4sl ; °lsla
3s 41 to 4<; prime ditto, 4s to is •, largeer„.eesse•
3s 4d ; small ditto, 3s 83 to 43 per Sib. by th
FISH.
Quotaticfosj4;
Good supply of fish, with fair trade. led
_iotl'?
Soles, is 2d to Is 6d ; 10<1to ls ; tnr°° ys
bill, 8d to 10<1; cod, 4cl to 6d ; eels, 10,1 to,sprs'e' pet
4d to ; fresh haddocks. s<lto 44; state, '2B 4‘fis
sturgeon 9d; halibut, 9d per lb. ; whititgSesitttj s
dozen; fresh herrings, 8,1 to ,ls per dozen; bTobsec
to 3i per baset ; mackerel,. 3d to 4d edargil-104 t2eaddrooplo
to 2s d eac's ; crabs. 6 to 2s each;
it
to ls each; shrimps, Sd per pint; per gal°
wch s, ld per pint mussels, Bsl to ls P
chicks, Al tO 60 per bundle. winkles. .e •
ISO
POTATO. Thae 81p,
good supply of potatoes were on offf•to i 5523,100
Sun trade, as follows: Scotch Regents, ,805603 ;
iOhio, 70s to 80s; Champions, 50s s ten,
.10onan1e. 60s to SOS; Victorins, 700 to 908 Pc4'

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SATURDA Y, JAN. 24 L 385

lAtii RIGHTS RVOICItTED.]
AMBITION'S LADDER.
By the Author of " Atherstene Grange,' Life for

a Love," 4-e.

CHAPTER XL.—( Continued).
Eve Could contain herself no longer, but burst into
Passionate flood of tears while Leonard, unable
,!0 console her, looked on with a wild desire to take
!ler in his arms and beseech her to trust her tate to
lan; regardless of any promise she might have
naade.
But he restrained his inclination, strong as it
was, and appealed to her reason instead.
a 6` live," be said gently laying his hand upon her
1,1:111, for the choking sohs that escaped her showed
. jailni that at present she was unable to speak, "no
•°nest man, no one who truly loved you, could
e
. e'lasel such concealment. You do not love this
Mae le,
ti Still she answered never a word, but cried on as
.O Ugh her heart would break, and Leonard con-
Kneed:
engaeement can be put an end to," he
yeou.,,air'eand sha°ll, if what I conjecture be true, an•l
hampered by a foolish school-girl entangle-
ml right?"
af.“,, Oh no !" she murmured, finding her voice
se'st• 'Do not let us speak of it any more,
—cenrrard ; it is too late."
•oric>"-L°77 ? It cannot be too late to be broken
p" It is," she cried. " Ah, you do not know!
Tor pity's sake do not torture me loneer. Listen,
-"eonard, I will be honest with you. fdid know of
Year love— Ahor thought so—and—returned it--"
StaY, there must be no more words between us
lio.141e1:t point. I returned it, till I was told—no
where or by whom—that you—you had '
in love with a young lady who went out in
e same ship with you, and had married her."
I.eonard looked at her amazedly.
And h believed such a preposterous story e said. you
;04 Yes—for a time, that is. I know it was foolish,
-Bard of me but there seemed no room for doubt,
atul 77
"T„ave credit to a lie that made me out a weak,
sr—eauY idiot. So, that was the reason? To be
he:enged on me for my supposed inconstancy you
-vessgiven your promise to another."
itb" 'Les- Pray do not let us say anything more ,
b out it, Leonard. 1 have been to blame, I confess;
nothing you can say or do can alter what is past 1
1,,,'1,w• oh, Leonard, hear with it, for my sake; and
t4;"evo me when I say that you are not the only one
la be pitied. I must suffer for my folly, quite as
ilees,ll,_ as you can do. More, indeed," she went on L
" for my punishment will be lifelong. You
tol-f e°43n forget this disappointment, and learn to-
-,°,,e —another ? "
..Never ! " cried Leonard, seizing her hand.
'ever' while I have life Eve, I implore you, tell
Cre wh a t all this mystery means. Why will you not
8-,,tlat Your friends? Believe me, I would soon find
tn-ree means of releasing you if you would but give
e Your confidence."
irnPossible."
At least I should try."
And fail."
for lack of Will," he urged. "Eve, if y
el'e me
_l7
fy: Will not hear you!" she exclaimed desperately,
ng herself at the same time from his detaining
For pity's sake, Leonird, let there be an
TO' this. You don't know how you pain me.
test, the truest kindness you can show me now
L'Au forever after is silence. Go, and forget that we
'lve ever met."
4,5,110 held out her hands to him pleadingly as she
i'°Ke, but Leonard turned moodily away, and she
het them fall again to her side with a resigned,
,„°,peless gesture that would have moved •h m to
ry., but that he steeled his heart against such a
-to xorget! That is a command easier to give than
:Ind obeyed, Miss Trenchard," he replied. " But ,
e it
su ; Since you will it I shall do your bidding in
at
lie; "Peet, at least. From this moment I seal my
si 'Pon the word love, and bury the truest, most
lii's4ed Part of my nature. The heart poetry of my
6 nsWer fends here, Eve, and you alone will have to
aor it."
• Creel, unkin.
d she broken'y murmured.
Bat Leonard heard not her pitiful little cry, nor
`Nle the
,look of anguish that accompanied it, for
''w
a ith the last word on his lips he had turned quickly
tweasYsluld left her, returning- to the house, while
u
• ew by another road and sought refuge in her
aPartments.
-Irl the house Leonard found Dr. S wasson with
"s master. They looked at him curiously as he
entered.
in" !" muttered Mr. Sartoris, quickly o'
<-Sg the dark cloud upon the young man's lime es
reatters don't p rogr ess favoura' ly that's very
'lideut
Dr. Sampson advanced to meet his ;dee.
" he said eagerly, "how did you get on?
'-'aye you had it all out with her?"
• "Yes," replied Leonard, moodily; I have had
an eeplanation with Miss Trenehard--if it can be
called so when she refuses to explain anythine—
aad the result is soon told. Everything is at an
end between us for eyer."
Y" At an end! and for ever! Tut! Ridiculous !
en are speaking like a jealous, love-sick school-
,uoY, Len," exclai fled the doctor. "At an end,
indeed! How can that be unless Eve actually
tarries someone else, or is dead and buried? Take
eteart of grace, my boy, and don't despond. Upon
'IIIY soul, I believe that you youngsters of the present
generation haven't an atom of pluck in your com-
position. I really am astonished, Len, that a young
lowof your generally sound common sense should
so easily discouraged! Why, hang it all, lad,
"1-fl ashamed of you."
tell you it is all over," doggedly repeated
"I have tried all in my power to indu e
teve t° speak out, but to no purpose. She adheres
the one point, that I am too late in the field -as
v
4.01_ that was my fault —but will not say why, nor
at
eaea wh is the name of my rival, though she
owledges that I have one."
niti,,h she has also confessed to me," quietly
, -'rved Mr. Sartoris. " But as to the fellow's
theThee' °r who or what he is, I am quite as much in
ssilluegis as yourself. All she has told me is that he
make himself known soon; but in the mean-
tet;Bll, e can give me no information respecting him
ne comes himself to make a formal reauest
er hand.”
2,
2
48k"ettl,d will you grant such a request, -sir .
stra -Leonard; in a tone of indignant remon-
nee.
pace‘,Grant it ! " exclaimed Dr. Sampson, rising and
the room in his excitement. "Certainly not.
never dream of such a thing, should we,
is ?
"Well, that remains to be seen," answered the
eojer, coolly. "Of course, I can withhold my
do saen,t if I see fit ; and equally of course I should
eso,4°,,f I found tho man, whoever he may be, nn-
of her."
do";‘' I"1 ro'se in he doct r. "What the deuce
Mean by if, Sartoris? How can he be any-
eorjselse ? What honest man would be afraid to
sis forward openly at once? Stuff and nonsense,
voi.se Bay it shall not be, and I believe I have a
girl', in the matter. Why, sooner than allow the
c'o make such a fool of herself, I—l would sign
1411'eate of her lunacy myself, and have her
uP in an asylum safely out of harm's way.
I would; sir ! "
t•Artoris smiled grimly at this threat of the
cae cible doctor, and even Leonard, miserable as
areiiweaa. could hardly refrain from joining in the
it)on't be precipitate, Sampson," said the lawyer.
afterlll,Pretty much of the same opinion as yourself
• tßht t 41.1, as to this Mysterious suitor. But we can't
su'un before he puts in an appearance, you know.
bes,,,`'alre very good care that he does not see Eve
biel'e 'we have had some little conversation with
. 7,010 make your mind easy on that point."
the7i ere was nothing more to be said and done
l' and Leonard and his guardian were about to
eft,
be hen the latter suddenly remembered a let ter
eorlafta brought from home, which he handed to
s.,
and ta, who read the contents with some surprise
Passed it back again for the doctor's perusal.
4 tneWis,aB Only a short note, unsigned, and resuesting
theilg, the following day, on the palace side of
O s th eund Pond in Kensington Gardens, and alone,
lest ~,e :writer had a private communication of great
to to make to Mr. Grant, and would decline
Pers—Etge him Self or his object known if any third
was present.
altess
r y word and honour !" groaned the doctor,
" 03.,erusing the note and returning it to Leonard.
e that everybody is in a plot to drive me
-4berniewsit,ll mysteries and secrets and all such
ie anic rubbish. Bedlam must lately have let
opiecrarrlttes loose upon society _ that's my private

CHAPTER XII.
AN AWKWARD DILEMMA.
1110,r,..._1,1311. joy be done with, and grief be vain,
shall not sever us wholly in twain;
arth is not spoilt for a single shower,
lint tile rain has ruined the ungrown flower.
teon }llll° more was seen of Eve that night, though
e„att 114.'4, and Doctor Sampson remained with Mr.
t'to i°r some time in earnest consultation over
414n,contsiats of the note received by the young
Illeanaild various speculations as to what it could
c,
tlat that I fancy there can be much doubt upon
Iltot T'ut,'' remarked the lawyer. "The writer is
ly „
"
,
(c pre ood !" suggested Doctor Sampson.
cv
* •uleo, too," said Leonard. "What ought
,
"feet him ?"
174.11 a policeman ready to take him into
the E4tScou d broke in the doctor. "Or,
,Itlll, letnr
us send for Pounceby.
Ho
11'Y dear Sampson," said his friend
it:-Ine with such a fellow it is impossible to
-1A61,7, cautious. You see what he says, that
e)llfliZa must attend the rendezvous alone. 1)e-
-wowa
rPeosniiiitt,iannfyaialuttreem.,ipt to break that condition

-

"What do you propose then ?"
"That his conditions are accepted. I believe that
our young friend here has his wits sufficiently about
him to be trusted to act with caution, particularly
&nee the issue—if all be as we suspect—is of so
great importance to his own welfare. All I would
suggest," he added, turning to Leonard, "is that
you should be careful to make no definite terms with
your anonymous correspondent until you have &in-
stilled with us after hearing what he has to tell
you.,,
To this Leonard assented, and shortly afterwards
went away with Dr. Sampson, returning to town by
rail.
It was but a short journey, but very few words
passed between them on the road. Doctor Sampson,
indeed, was full of speech, but met with little
response, for Leonard's thoughts were very busy,
and he gave only the most random answers to his
companion's remarks.
"Who could this man be who had obtained so
strange an influence over Eve," he thought, his
wildest conjecture never approaching the real state
of the case. "What secret power could he possess
that enabled him to coerce her as it was evident he
did? Could it be—?"
But he dismissed the half-formed thought that
presented itself to his mind as one unworthy of
himself, degrading to her whose purity and inno-
cence he would have defended with his last breath.
Still, he could discern nothing with distinctness,
his brain was in a whirl, and despite his faith doubts
would arise with added force in his mind after he
had banished them —lingering doubts which, strive
as he would, no effort of his will was strong enough
completely to dispel.
And again, there was other cause for anxiety and
disquiet. To know with almost absolute certainty
that the man who professed to be acquainted with
the secret of his birth was here, in England, and yet
be unable to find him, was added reason for Leonard
Grant to feel as though the world were all in arms
against him. True, there was every cause to believe
that that mystery was one which he would soon
have the opportunity of solving when he encountered
the writer of that strangely-worded epistle which
had reached him, but even this admitted of so much
doubt that Leonard could not form any decided
opinion, and must perforce wait the appointed
meeting next day before being assured on that ',faint.
They alighted at Vauxhall, intending to take a
cab from thence to Hampstead, and here a little
contretemps took place which was not without its
influence over the after-course of events.
Leonard had with him a small travelling valise,
which a porter seized and placed on one side on the
platform with a probatle view to a prospective
"tip" while he gathered together the numerous
packages of a bewildered female passenger and
transferred them to a vehicle downstairs. He was
not long away, returning almost immediately to find
an elderly, weather-beaten man stooping down Over
the valise.

"Now then, drop that!" he cried.
of yours."
" Who said as how it was r growled the man,
rising sti.lly to an upright posture, but looking
somewhat disconcerted at the same time. "I was
only a-thinking as the gentleman what owns it
might want it carried:somewheres for him, and i'd
be glad of the job if he did."
"Oh, indeed, I daresay you would!" said the
porter, casting a suspicious look at him. " Very
hard up for a job, no doubt, you are. More likely
if I hadn't h?ppened to see you tho gentleman
wouldn't have wanted anybody to carry his port-
manty for him to night."
"What d'ye mean ?" asked the other, sulki.y.
" D'ye think I was a-going to prig it ?"
"Never you mind what I think," sharply ro
torte I the porter. "You just be off out of this, and
bless your lucky stars that I'm in a hurry to get
away, and don't want the trouble of going to the
police-station, or you wouldn't get off so easy, I can
tell you. So hook it, now, while you're safe."
The old man looked at him as though half
inclined to set him at defiance, but evidently
thought that discretion was the better part of
valour' and glaring savagely at the porter, he
moved away.
Not far, however, for a little incident at the gate
attracted his notice, and he slunk into the shadow
close by to watch what was going on.
Doctor Sampson stood there, with Leonard by his
side, rather a perplexed look on both their faces as
the doctor, who had searched all his pool, ets un-
availingly, arrived at last at the conclusion that
further search was useless.
He had lost his purse, containing his own and
Leonard's tickets for the journey, besides what
money it contained.
"And I haven't a penny about rn,,," said Leonard,
a little amused at the ridiculous awkwardness of the
situation. "What are we to do ?''
The doctor shook his head, again plunged his
hands into one pocket after another, with the same
result as before, and looked at the ticket collector
who barred their exit with a stolid, imperturbable
expression upon his face, as though the matter was
one in which he had not the slightest interest.
"It's very awkward!" said the doctor.

"It's none.

"Yes,
"What's to be done?"

See the station-master, I

"Don't know, sir.
suppose.''
That fuctionary appeared, and speedily settled
the business. It was quite evident to him that no
trickery was intended, and he quietly put aside
Doctor Sampson's suggestion to leave his watch as a
pledge for the fares.
" There's no occasion for that, he said
civily. "Give the collector your name and address,
and forward the amount to-morrow. It's all right,
Jones."
And having settled matters thus summarily, he
went away again, leaving thd doctor much relieved
at his extrication from an awkward dilemma.
Leonard was also asked for his name, which he
gave in full, and as he did so the old man who stood
in the shadow behind craned his head forward in
an endeavour to see the speaker's features. This,
however, he was unable to accomplish just then;
but he was not to be baulked, and followed them
downstairs, slinking past them to the entrance of
the station yard, when he stopped and watched each
vehicle as it drove out.
It came at last, the one he had been waitino• for,
and as it passed through the gate the glare of the
gas lamps then lit up the interior, and gave him a
full view of the occupants' faces.
"I thought so! I knew I couldn't make no
mistake I" excitedly exclaimed the old man. " I
was sure of it."
And darting across the read he folowed the ca'‘,
which he soon overtook, and - unpirceived in the
darkness—jumped up behind, and was eon eyed so
to its journey's end with no further damage thin
considerable splashing of mud from the wheels and
a slight stiffness in the joints of his legs, canse I by
the cramped position in which he had been oblied
to pinch himself.
The driver Icel.:A rather suspiciously at him as
the cab drew up at the gate of Dr. Sampson's
house, and the old man dropped quietly off his
precarious seat in time to be alongside ready to
open the door.
"I do believe as you've bin a puttin' extiy weight
ore me, old 'un," he said growlingly. "I wish as
how I'd known on it, I'd have warmed you up a bit,
take my word."
"What's the matter ?" asked Doctor Sampson,
alighting.
"Well, I ain't quite sure, sir, but it strikes me I
seed that old varmint just as I drew out of the
station; and he's been a havin' a free gratis ride all
the way up here for nothin'' • that's all. I wish I
knowed for sure, blowed if I don't !"
But grumble as he would, he had no proof, and
Joe Brarl'ey—for it was he—was not likely to
betray himself.
"Me ride on your cab !" he said in tones of
whining expostulation. "Why, I ain't got no
strength to sit in a chair hardly, much less hold
on a perch like that! I've only just managed to
crawl along ,he road from Barnet, and nearly lost
my way coming across the Heath, genelmen, and
now I've got all the road to Lambeth to go, and
not the price of a bed or a cup of coffee to bless
m self with."
During this brief colloquy Leonard bad been up
to the house for some money, and now returned in
time to hear the last words. It was so dark he
could hardly discern the speaker's features, and what
he could make out of them was so covered with
ro 7gh, s'ubbly beard and begrimed with dirt that
they would hardly have been recognisable even
and( r more favourable circumstances; but the voice
had a strangely familiar ring in his ears, though be
strove in vain to recall where he had heard it
before.
"'What is your name?" he asked sharply, while
Doctor Sampson settled with the cabman, who
drove off so much mollified by the liberal fare he
had pocketed that he almost felt inclined to play the
part of the good Samaritan, and proffer Joe Brad-
ley a lift on his way Londonwards, in spite of the still
strong conviction he felt that the account given of
hims lf by the old tramp was a false one.
"My name ?" repeated Joe. "A poor unfort'-
nate fellow like me ain't got no call for a name,
Old Bill I'm called by them as knows mo. Once I
used to be called Mr. Williams ; but lor' bless you,
sir, that's a long time ago, when things was better
with me. I'd a good business then —was a master
sweep with three 'prentices and a journeyman—
but I've gone down in the world now, and Old Bill's
quite a good enough name for the likes o' me.'
"And you've walked all the way from Barnet,
you say r interposed the doctor, always ready to
be imposed upon by a tale of want.
"Every step of the road, your honour," whin-
ingly replied Joe. "'Taint much Of a tramp for
them as is young and in good trim, of course, but
for a pair of old legs like mine, stiff wi' rheumatics
too, it's a different matter."
"Mid where do you say you are bound for ?"
"Lambeth, your honour. I'vef got a sister there
in the New Cut--her husband's a coster—as'll give
me a shakedown and a bite if I can get as far; but
I'm dead beat as it is, and wouldn't try it to-night if
I'd only got the price of a doss —I mean a bed, your
honour.'
"What do you think, Len? Is he an impostor
whispered Doctor Sampson to his young friend, who
stood silently by, still with that vague conviction,
for which he could in no manner account, that it
was not the first time he had listened to those
hoarse. whining accents.

"I should say it s extremely probable, air,' he
answerei in the same low tone. "At the same
time -" _ _ .

"lie may be speaking the truth. Precisely so,"
eagerly broke in the doctor, glad to find the smallest
semblance of excuse for his disregard of one of the
first principles of political economy, which he as
unswervingly upheld in theory as he neglected in
practice.
"I suppose it's very wrong, an encouragement to
vagabondage, and all that sort of thing," he re-
marked, shaking his head doubtfully, as, a few
minutes later, Joe Bradley limped away in a slow,
painful manner, richer by half-a-crown and a huge
slice of bread and cold meat, which he devoured
with touch apparent relish as he went. "But what
are you ;linking of, my by ?.'
Leonard was standing at the gate, gazing after
the supposed tramp's fast-receding figure now
barely discernible in the black gloom of night -with
an intentness that certainly called for the doctor's
question.
"Thinking of !" he repeated, roused from the
abstraction into which he had fallen. "I hardly
know._ I feel perple..ed ; I want to remember."

" What?" - -
"Upon my word I can't say. I must be dream-
ing, I fancy, for I can't shake off the impression
that somewhere, at some time or other, I have met
that man before." . _ _

"Pooh, nonsense!" exclaimed Doctor Sampson.
"How is that at all likely? And yet," he added
reflectively, as they entered the house together,
"it is odd, now you come to mention the fact,
there was something of the sort struck me when he
spoke; but, like yourself, I can't account for it.
I darekay it is only fancy on both our parts, after
all. At any rate, there's no use bothering our
heads about it." _ _ _ _ _

So the matter dropped for the time. Meanwhile
the object of their speculation had discarded his
limp and jaded appearance as soon as he was satis-
fied that there was no chance of being observed by
his benefactors, and plodded on towards town at a
brisk rate of speed, there to invest part of his half-
crown in supper and a bed, two things that were
hardly to be obtained in the suburban locality he
found himself in at so cheap a rate as they could be
procured in the quart,r he was bound for.
"Only to think, now ! " he muttered to himself,
chuckling and rubbing his hands gleefully together
as he tramped briskly along by the Mother Redcap,
down Tottenham-court-road, and at last plunged
into the recesses of the Dials. "Only to think that
my luck should take such a turn! It'll be as good
as a little fortune to me if I only mind how I go to
work. Just to think! What a swell he have
growed, to be sure, and well off, too. Won't he be
surprised, titt't all, next time he sees me? But I
mustn't be in too great a hurry. I don't know
enough yet to make him stump up. But I shall
soon, and then—no more being chivied by the peelers
for old Joe."
And as he plunged down the entrance of a dark,
unsavoury alley at this point of his meditations, it
may be as well to part company with him for the
present.
(To be continued.)

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