River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-01-04
THE RIVER FALLS JOURNAL RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN

the Fagin school of finance that the
boy was "a runaway from the
Workhouse at Dunbridge and his
name is Oliver Twist"
my long-lost brother" said
Monks, but there was nothing re-
assuring in his tone-that is, moth
ing that Oliver would regard as re-
assuring. A sinister pleasure Lit up
the evil countenance of Monks as he
explained to Fagin in another room
TO which they adjourned to be out
of earshot of Oliver, that the boy
stood between him and the estate OF
Leeford. "That's my half-Srother,"
said Monks. According to the terms
of the will my fathers estate is to
go to that illegitimate brat if he
reaches the age of twenty-one with
out staining his soul--as the old fool
put it--with any act of public dis
honor" ~ .sst,,, ,t
"Your half-brother has come to
the very school," said the merry old
gentleman, with chuckle anything
but merry.
MAKE a thief of the boy--a pick
pocket-and involve him in that act
of public dishonor' and I'll reward
you handsomely" said Monks, con-
Guiding the interview.
divers instructions in the gentle
art of thievery began at once.
"How ever can the merry old
gentleman find use for so many
handkerchiefs? was the boys un-
spoken thought as he was set to
work on a heap from which he was
instructed how to remove the lni-
tials and other private marks which
might serve to identify thor. But
after all it caused Oliver little per-
plexity and he dismissed his own M
terrogation as quickly as possible
for it seemed to him quite unworthy
to question anything the merry old
gentleman might do. For the first
time in his life, Oliver was being
amply fed, had sheltering ROOF
over his head and kind though SIN
gular friends in Fagin, Charley
Bates, Mr.. John Dawkins TNNT
Crackitt and the rest of Fagin's
associates.
Besides, it pleased Oliver to think
that he was, at last, on the high
way to fortune for though the merry
old gentleman lived in great nodes
tv and economy, there was ample
evidence that his sources of income
were numerous and ample and he
was advised with mo~v- h''@''e
from Fagin's boys, that he too,
| should shortly be lnSfueeeu ~ -4.o
mysterious ways whereby the Fagln
Golfers were kept filled by the daily
contributions of the Dodger, char
ley Bates and the others.
But preliminary to this adventure
| and to break the lium of divers
eternal picking of identifying
threads from merchandising
heap of handkerchief, was a course
in pocket-picking, though Oliver
was given to understand it was
nothing but a game. The merry old
gentleman, placing a snuff-box IN
one pocket of his trousers. a note
case in the other and watch in his
waistcoat pocket, with guard
chain round his neck and sticking a
mock diamond pin in his shirt; but
toned his coat tightly and putting
his spectacle case and handkerchief
in his pockets, trotted up and down
the room with a stick in imitation
of the manner in -h Oh old gentle
men walk about tie streets. At last
the Dodger trod upon his toes while
Charley Bates stumbled against
him; and in that one moment they
took from him chain, shirt-pin, pock-
ct handkerchief and even his spec
tacle case.
1 IT. ba Copfipuadl