mooth, plausible fellow, that had been in many a
dark job, unsuspected even by his wife and family, who were respectable.

Thus instructed, Tucker went to the other men, and soon reported to
Grotait that he had got Cole all right, but that Simmons looked coldly
on the job. He was in full work, for one thing, and said Little had had
his squeak already, and he didn't see following him eleven miles off;
he had, however, asked him whether Little had a wife and children, which
question he, Tucker, could not answer.

"But I can," said Grotait. "He is a bachelor. You can tell Simmons so.
There are reasons why Ned Simmons must be in this. Try him to-morrow at
dinner-time. Bid two pounds more; and--his wife is near her time--tell
him this job will help him buy her wine and things," said the kind,
parental, diabolical Grotait.

Next morning Henry worked with the pen for Dr. Amboyne till twelve
o'clock. He then, still carrying out his friend's views, went down to Mr
Cheetham's words to talk to Simmons.

But he found an ill-looking fellow standing by the man's side, and close
at his ear. This was no other than Dan Tucker, who by a neat coincidence
was tempting him to DO Little.

Yesterday's conversation had unsettled Simmons, and he did not come
to work till twelve o'clock. He then fixed a small pulley-wheel to his
grindstone, to make up for lost time.

He was still resisting the tempter, but more faintly than yesterday,
when Little came in, and spoke to him. Both he and Dan were amazed
at his appearance on the scene at that particular moment. They glared
stupidly but said nothing.

"Look here, Simmons," said Little. "I have been to your friend Grotait,
and asked him to pay you for what you call time lost in hanging and
racing a new stone. He won't do it. That's your FRIEND. Now I'm your
ENEMY; so the Union says. Well, enemy or not, I'll do what Grotait
won't. I'll pay you the four shillings for lost time, if you will stop
that stone at once, and hang another."

"Why, what's wrong with the stone?"

"The best judge in Hillsborough condemned it; and now, if you are not
running it with an undersized pulley-wheel, to try it worse!"

Simmons got stupid and irritated between the two. His bit of manhood
revolted against Little's offer, made whilst he was half lending his ear
to Tucker's proposal; and, on the other hand, that very offer irritated
him with Tucker, for coming and tempting him to DO this very Little, who
was a g