The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-22
M OARlLl MRENS

claimed the chairnaan.
 oliver was ordered into instant con- fnement; and next day reward of pounds was offered to any one who weuld take him as an apprentice. Mr, Sowerberry, who had the honor of conducting the 0fictal funeraIs of l the paupers whom the board he'd sue- easnfully convinced that pauperism did not pay. undertook to receive the pounds with the incumbrance of oii- vaF.s
 He gave him dignlfsd but somewhat somhre lodglngs under the counter in the shop among tho coaiins. while Mrs. Sowerberry saw to his physical welt being by giving him a daily share of | the food remnants that used to go to the cat. His mental and moral dlscip- | line was looked after by his fellow ap. prentice. Noah Claypole, charity boy, whose ofieial unifnrm Of yellow smalis was made additionally gorgeous by hts l extremely bright red nose. MT. Clay pole. as q son of known though disso- lute parents, looked down from an im- menae social height on the workhonse brat Aided and abetted by the hlat- ternly maid, Charlotte, he heaped on the drudge all the indignities he could invent
 oliver bore them without complaint till the small wits of Mfr. Claypoie bee came so empty of subjects that he fell back on the matter of Oliver's mother, portraying her character in terms that suddenly brought an amazing cataa- trophe upon him. Oliver. so furious that his pase face actually flushed, seized the charity boy by the throat. shook him with all his might and at
 last struck him to the ground with one nervousiy powerful blow. Noah wisely remained where he had
 r@liens hawling murder. Charlotte re-
 spondsd t1 9ss the appeal sna sSa,SssS ol
 joined the fray and scratched his face
 while Charlotte beat him wi.h her dls-
 engaged fist.
 Run Tor the beadlar' cried the wd-
 men. and Noah oheyed with alacrity,
 holding steel knife to his eye to keep down the swelling.
 Tho bsadle came psntink and applied
 his parochiai cane with great courage
 and energy. oongratulatinR the h0use-
 hold on net having been murdered in
 their beds by the desperate young ruff
 fan. MT. Sowerberry obliged bis wife
 by adding another and very thorough
 thraahiAg to the beadle's masterpiece.
 Then Oliver, panting and aching. was
 thrown into hts sleeping place and left
 in darkness.
 sAs scon as the house was quiet he | &FQN4s BkG&AtltAy ulttuCACU tll4 QOaf anu
 lied. He went at random and happened
 to take the direction of London. All
 that first day he walked. with nothing
 but crust of bread 60 sustain him.
 The next day he bought a loaf with q penny that he had received one day.
 the only one he had ever had. So he
 went on. begging when he dared. htd-
 ing fn hedaes and hAyricka. his feet
 faltaFing more and more each day with
 Ea awA la AnR. ag.xIs. asa,
 with insuhicient food.
 He waa sitting listiessly by the road.
 side one morning not far out of Lon
 don when a queer person accosted him with; "Hulic. my sovey. what's the
 fow7'' & .~
 The queer person was az dirty juve- nile with as commonplace a face as could be found, but his manner was so roystering and swaggering that 1t seemed to Do in perfect keeping with -thaa Rduit's elothAs that he wore. Ee had turned the long sleeves Of tho coat back halt way to set hts hands out, which he kept in the immense pockets ef the corduroy trousers that swathsd him.
 His manner was altogether so know ing and so commanding that Oliver told him as much of his story as he thought wise. Tn return his newly found acquaintance explained patroniz- inSly that he was Mir. Jack Dawkins, much better and honorabIy Known, however. as The Artful Dodger. He further explained that he was the par ucular friend and Drotege of q fine old gentle1lan in London, who was SO philan throbicalIy Inclined that he would be- vfad to give Oliver shelter on his recommendation.
 Oliver, innocent of the world as Q young kitten, accepted his knowing pa- irons offer and accompanied him to London. His conductor led him through dirty and writched streets to a house near Field lane, and there uahered him into a room black with dirt and age.
 Standing over the fireplace, where sausages were cooking in a rusty fry- pan, was a very old. shriveled man, whose face was observed with a quan- tity of matted red hair. He wss dress ed in a greasy flannel gown and seemed to divide hta attention between the fry pan and q clothes horse on which hung great many sillE handker- chiefs.
 He srinned when Mr. pawixins intro duced Oliver, shook him by the hand and hoped he should have the honor of his intimate acquaintance. Several other young gentlemen who were in the room came around and shook hands also, and some of them even put their hands In oliver's pockets to save him the trouble of emptying them him. self.
 The old man. who was Addressed as Fagih, said: We are glad to see you, oliver, very. An, you're staring at the handkerchiefsl Eh, my deari There are a great many of them. amt there?, We've just looked them out. Oliver, ready for the wash. That's all, Oliver, that's all. Ike! ha! hap
 It was late next morning when he awoke from long sound, much needed sleep. He was alone in the place. save for Fagin, who was cooking something again, and stopping ever and again to listen. Presently the Artful Dodger came in with a very sprightly young companion. whom he introduced as Charley Bates. The four sat down to breakfast. during the course of which Fagin, looking slyly at Oliver, said to his young friends: T hope you have been at work this morning, my dears?"
 The Arttul Dodger produced two pockstbools, which Fagin inspected carefully, especially inside.
 Not So heavy as they might me-" said he, "but very neat and nicely made. Ingenious workman. ain't he, Oliver?"
 At oliver's admiring reply. both young men burst into an uproarious laugh, which became hysterical when Charley Bates produced four silk hand kerchiefs, and Fagin asked Oliver if he would not like to learn how to make pocket handkerchiefs as easily as
 When breakfast was cleared away, the two boys and the merry old gentle man played at a very curious and url-