The San Francisco call., 1906-09-02

and shriveled up than ever, was seated
in a dark corner, with an unlighted
pipe in his mouth. half-dra1ned tank
ard of bitter before him, and hts hands
thrust moodily into his pockets. IL
Monkey had the diamonds. his appear
ance belied their possession. for he
looked anything but. prosperous. There
was no appearance OF wealth In his
looks or manner or choice of abode.
"wot, Bill. ole pal" he said. looking
up when Mr. Smith hurled himself into
the room. ''Y've got hotit of quod'
''Yus. I've got hout to slit yer
throat
Lori whined Monkey uncomfort-
ably. "Wots you accusin' me fur? l
amt done nufin. selp me-!
Bill drew a chair before that OF
Monkey, and taking his knife played
with 1t in significant manner. Mon
key shrank back before the glitter OF
the blade and the ugly look in his pals
eyes, but he did not dare to cry out
for assistance. lest the burglar should
poupce on him.
Now look zee ere, Monkey" said
Bill, with grim deliberation, Il don't
want none of yer bloomin' lip. ner his
eiatherl Dye see? I've seen that beast
of a kid as you put up to steal my
dimins, and
yah That kid" cried Monkey.
with sudden ferocity. Wish I'd i'm
ere; I'd squeeze the cart out O. him~
"wot fur? Didn't e git ~ the swag
-moy swag-cuss y'?'
mo. e didn't. an eff e sez e did. 'e's
a liar--a bloomin'. busted liar, s'elp
me! tell you. BILL e KEEP them
sinners to 'imseIf. cuss inn"
"Thet's a d-d lie. y .sneakin'
dorgl" said Bill. politely.
M die IL 'tain't gorspel truth!
yelped Monkey. Look 'ee ere. ole
Don't " call me palr' interrupted
Bill. savagely. II amt no pal Of
yourn, y terbaccer-faced son OF a
bloomin 'angmanl Liz blew the gaff
on me poppin' that himage, and y
tried to git m swag when l was doin'
time. An y did get 1t. y
II didn't" snapped Monkey inter
rupting in his turn. The kid stuck to
the swag, I tell y Course l knowed
of them dimins!
Course y did," growled William.
ironically. Didn't l tell y 'ow l
cracked that crib in Curzon street. an
prigged tn dimins an tn himage?
Yah. " cuss.'
Il knows " did. Bill. An you tole
me ,ow v slowed the swag inside the
doll MY heyei that was sharp of ".
but y moight 'ev trusted pail l
didn't know y popped the doll till Liz
told me. She sawr y goin' in I that
; pOp61OIp WIKI llc OLltiCA tAAHo 0tA0C1
And you'd set 'er arter mer' cried
Bill, savagely. she didn't git int
Lambeth on the chance
"Yus" said Monkey. doggedly. Il did
put er on yer trail. Y hid the dimins
in that image. and cleared out with it,.
l couldn't foller meself, so | set Liz
ont ye. She tole me as ow y'd popped
tn thing: so when y wos doin' time 1
tried TO git 1t again, tho that young
cuss 'es sold me-
sBlisnme. but I've a moind to slit yer
throat." said Bill. furiousiy. Wut d.
v mean tryin' to collier my swag?''
Why, fur yer own sake Bill. selp
ns~ thort the gal might fin out But
v needn't git up, Bill; didn't git them
dimins. The boy has them"
That's lie, I tell W.
"'Tain't. When tole the kid about
the dinins he stole 'cm sure, an lef tn
doll so es the pawnshop gal wouldn't
nm out. But never saw I'm again,
bloomin tyke. The boy cleared out
with them dimins. | wish I'd i'm ere.
Id choke the little d--l!'
Bill reflected and slipped the knife
into his pocket. Without doubt Mon-
key was speaking the truth; he was
too savagely in earnest to be telling
a faIsehood.. Moreover. IL he really
possessed the diamonds he would not
remain hard up and miserable in the
thieves quarter OF dingy WhitechapeI.
No; Bolker had kept the Jewels and
had deceived Monkey: more than that,
in the interview on the ruined wharf he
had deceived Bill himself Prldine
himself on his astuteness. Mr.. Smith
felt savage at having been sold by a
mere boy
IF kin on'y sit him again." he
thought. when leaving the Three Kings.