, pleasant voice broke the painful silence.

"Old Un," said he, rising, "I understand you are fond of jam--well, from
now on you shall bathe in it if you wish."

"Spoke like a true sport, Guv!"

"Why, you see, you have surely done me a very great service."

"Meanin' because I found ye th' murderer."

"Murderer?" exclaimed Ravenslee, staring.

"Why, yes--there 'e is!" and the old man pointed a long finger at the
shrinking Spike.

"Old Un," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, "don't joke with me--"

"I--I ain't jokin', Guv," cried the Old Un, rising. "Why--oh,
Lorgorramighty, you don't mean t' say as this ain't 'im? Why, 'e 's
confessed, Guv; I 'eard 'im!"

Ravenslee smiled gently and shook his head again.

"But he has been sick, Old Un; he was hurt, you know, when he saved my
life."

"But, Lord, Guv, if 'e 's confessed--"

"He has been sick, Old Un, and when we are sick the wisest of us are apt
to say silly things--even I did, so they tell me."

"What?" quavered the old man, "ain't I--ain't I found no murderer for
ye, arter all, Guv?"

"You've done something much, very much better, Old Un--you've found me
my brother!"

"Brother!" echoed Spike, "brother? Oh, Geoff--" he sighed deeply, and
as Ravenslee crossed toward him he smiled wanly and sank swooning into
the supporting arms of the Spider, who at a word from Hermione bore the
boy up-stairs; but scarcely was he laid upon his bed than he opened his
heavy eyes.

"Say, Spider," said he wearily, "old Geoff sure does play square--even
to a worm like me--well, I guess! No, don't go yet, I want yer to hear
me try to explain the kind o' dirty dog I been--I guess he won't want
t' call me 'brother' after that; no, siree, he'll cut me out same as you
have an' serve me right too." Then turning toward where Ravenslee and
Hermione stood he continued: "Geoff--Hermy, dear--ah, no, don't touch
me, I ain't worth it. I'm too dirty--Spider says so--an' I guess he's
right. Listen--I meant t' go away t'day an' leave you because I felt so
mean, but th' old man followed me, an' I couldn't run because my arm
pained some--y' see, I fell on it. So I let him bring me back because I
guess it's up t' me t' let you know as I ain't fit t' be your brother,
Geoff--or Hermy's." For a moment Spike paused, then with an effort he
continued but kept his face averted. "Geoff, it was me--in the wood that
time! Yes, it was me, an' I had a gun. I--I meant--t' do you in, Geoff--"

Spike's voic