over themselves with credit. Therefore that portion of the work was
left entirely in their hands one evening, while Ben and Mopsey started
out to call on Dickey Spry for the purpose of consulting with him as
to how they could procure material with which to build seats, for
Dickey was supposed to be quite an authority in such matters.

Very little had been seen of Master Spry by this firm of dramatic
managers, authors, and actors since the night on which he had
purchased his old home. He had gone back to the business of blackening
boots, as he had said he should; but he was plying his trade in Jersey
City, in the hope that he might learn of the whereabouts of the boy
who had ruined him. Therefore it was only right that they should call
upon him, because of their friendship, even if they had not wanted his
advice. With this twofold purpose in view they started out, fearing
that they should not find him at home.

But their fears were groundless, for when they reached the hogshead,
Master Spry was discovered at a feast of herrings and crackers. He was
not a boy who indulged in any useless conversation; and when he saw
who his visitors were, he welcomed them by passing to each a herring
and a cracker, which was really more eloquent than words.

While he was eating, Ben glanced around, in order to see what changes
the new occupant had made. The only unfamiliar thing he saw was a
large sheet of brown paper tacked up at the end of the hogshead. On
this paper was printed the following notice, the letters having
evidently been made by a chewed stick, with liquid blacking
considerably diluted with water:

RuNNeD AwAy

tiM DooLy RuNNed AWAy
WitH ALL THe THInGs
i HAD oN My PeNUT STAND IN
GeRsey SITe AN i WILL PAy ENNy
FelleR TeN CENTS WHAT WILL
TeLL Me WHeR He is.

D. sPRy.

It is impossible to say what good Master Spry thought he could effect
by having this notice put up in his own home, where no one would see
it but his friends, who knew all the particulars; but it seemed to
afford him a great deal of satisfaction to look at it, which Ben
concluded was the reason why he had done it.

"Hain't heard nothin' 'bout Tim?" asked Ben, after he and Mopsey had
spelled the notice out with considerable difficulty, and many
misgivings as to whether Jersey should be spelled with a G or a J.

Dickey shook his head and tried to sigh; but he had such a large piece
of herring in his month tha