who--"

"Oh yes! A very fine story. I have heard of that kind of excuse
before!" interrupted Miss Block mockingly. "It's my belief you just
slipped in when poor old Mrs. Winter was out of the way for a minute,
and if I hadn't luckily caught you in the very act you would have been
off with your pockets crammed--"

"How can you say such things!" cried Madge. "Why, I have money to pay
for everything I want, only it's dropped down the grating into the
cellar of the next house, as I was just going to tell you. And while
Mrs. Winter went to get the key I was making up my mind what I would
buy presently. And as I have five shillings and sevenpence to spend
(it's not all mine exactly, but nearly the same thing), you certainly
need not say that I wasn't going to pay!"

"Now that's a very interesting story! So interesting that I'll give
you the chance of repeating it to a policeman, and we'll see what he
says to it," remarked Miss Block, at the same time moving towards the
street door as if to go out.

Madge could hardly believe her ears. A policeman being called to
examine her just as if she were really a thief! It seemed impossible,
but Miss Block, with a most unpleasant smile, was actually turning the
door-handle, when she was suddenly seized round the waist by two strong
arms.

"You sha'n't do it!" cried Madge hysterically. "You sha'n't do it, I
tell you!"

She was a tall, strong girl for her age, and having sprung on Miss
Block from behind and taken her quite by surprise, she had no
difficulty in dragging her across the little shop.

Miss Block uttered a series of frightened shrieks and tried to wrench
herself free, but though taller she was not nearly so active as Madge.
While struggling together the two girls pushed heavily against a door
at the back of the shop that led into Mrs. Winter's little
sitting-room. It burst open, and they both fell headlong on to a black
horse-hair sofa which occupied a prominent position in the room. Madge
recovered first from the shock of the fall, and darting back into the
shop slammed the door behind her, turning the key in the lock.

CHAPTER XVI.

IMPRISONED IN A PARLOUR

On finding herself imprisoned in the little parlour Miss Block began to
scream. The noise she had been making before was nothing compared to
what she made now. One would never have supposed that the wearer of
such a magnificent pink hat could scream as loud as she did. Madge
looked anxi