Year: 1860

He looked like all old clothc-man, but he wss only broher-a broker with d bad char aaer, anu hat that must have been, when it F4s bau 4or d broker. we leave to imagination and Johnson to oenHe lie Vas repuJed the l hardest man oI his trade; and, as men oI that trade are supposed to be mere electrical ma- chimes, worked by hnts, not hearts a suprc- macy of frmness must have left him fearful |c0nglomeIate He was d withcred old man now, almost doubled with age and rheumatism, with hooked nose, and light brown eyes, red round the lids, and a,tran-e mixture of sgrIi- nes- and suspicion III hIa face. lie looked a cross between a maauu and a weasel. which he Was. in character as well as comtenanee No one had d good word to say of him. The publican at the corner Was sure there Was something queer in man who did not take an honest glass like the rest, and the baker looked down on him because he ate seconds on principle. If distress was to be put on miIe- around the nci.hborhood, they prayed that it might not be by old Joe Mappin of uolbom Buildings One old woman sad she had as leave have the Emperor of Roosha as him; her daa- htcr said she'd lieter The very children were afraid of him. and scream ed if he came near them, unless they were impudent and mockcd him. But to the little ones he was the district boele and old Joe Nappn stood in Hoborn Buildings, soaring the riotous small fry of the guuers, for the " black man of more civilized nurseries

 Everybody said the man had a secret Some thought he was a concr, others that he had committed murder, and went to look at the body or grave. Other. again said he had a mad wife locked up in the gamet, on straw ; but none knew exactly what they thought cx- cepting the broad fact that there was a secret somehow and of course if belonging to him. disgraceful one; |" he could have nothing but villainly to conceal" |" said the inspector to policeman X, S2.

 Why the report arose of his having a se- crct in his life was, because evening after even ing. he was seen stealing in the dusk from his garret, along lIolborn, toward the West End

 Q one knew where he went to, though more than one Iounger had set out to follow him. but somehow the old man always contriyed to escape, doubling the streets in such 8 quick and unexpected manner, that, however it was done, he invariably got away. All sorts of plans had been made to track him, but they all failed, every one of them; and the bro kers secret was a secret still. Little Teddy, his landlords boy. came the nearest to the dis coyery. but he lost him at last somewhere up in the new road, near Regents Park. though that was a good measure to have taken, too. Moreover. he saw that Joe was decently dressed beneath his shabby old cioak--a thing no one else would wear; and from that time the report had got about that it was a love af- fair with some mysterious celebrity, and that Joe Was buying a wife with his gold for |" he had a Calilomeyworth," said his landlords q little boy Teddy.

 One evening Joe set out as usual with his shabby old cloak and battered old hat, but well enough beneath. He walked cautiously at first, hobbling, as was natural to him nov, with his rheumatics so bad, but, after he passed through his particular quarter, turning round constantly, as if to cough, but in reality to see if any one were following, he walked briskly on. cutting through all sorts of queer alleys and bye-paces, winding and doubling like a fox; the best topographer in London could not have followed him. At last he came to pretty house in Regents Park-a house evidently inhabited by d gentlewoman of for tune, as well as of taste, for all the appoint mentS were in such perfect keeping, and there was such wealth of costly simplicity about it as could only belong to both of these con- dtions. The broker looked up at the window as he came beneath it, and little girl of four en or ffteen-but slight of her age-lean- ing out from among the geraniums, cried, an answer 10 his look, why, Joe, how late you are tonight"

 That sweet voice. The old man used to say to himself that he would not exchange its "Joe!" for good fppun note He nodded to her afectionately, and carefully scraping his shoes, went in with the air of a man who knows that he will be welcome. He took of