't
believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in
three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps
Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars."

"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully.

Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him
so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went
up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which
Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to
Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion.

ODD MAN OUT

The night watchman pursed up his lips and shook his head. Friendship, he
said, decidedly, is a deloosion and a snare. I've 'ad more friendships
in my life than most people--owing to being took a fancy to for some
reason or other--and they nearly all came to a sudden ending.

[Illustration: "Friendship, he said, decidedly, is a deloosion and a
snare."]

I remember one man who used to think I couldn't do wrong; everything I
did was right to 'im; and now if I pass 'im in the street he makes a face
as if he'd got a hair in 'is mouth. All because I told 'im the truth one
day when he was thinking of getting married. Being a bit uneasy-like in
his mind, he asked me 'ow, supposing I was a gal, his looks would strike
me.

It was an orkard question, and I told him that he 'ad got a good 'art and
that no man could 'ave a better pal. I said he 'ad got a good temper and
was free with 'is money. O' course, that didn't satisfy 'im, and at last
he told me to take a good look at 'im and tell him wot I thought of 'is
looks. There was no getting out of it, and at last I 'ad to tell him
plain that everybody 'ad diff'rent ideas about looks; that looks wasn't
everything; and that 'andsome is as 'andsome does. Even then 'e wasn't
satisfied, and at last I told 'im, speaking as a pal to a pal, that if I
was a gal and he came along trying to court me, I should go to the police
about it.

I remember two young fellers that was shipmates with me some years ago,
and they was such out-and-out pals that everybody called 'em the Siamese
twins. They always shipped together and shared lodgings together when
they was ashore, and Ted Denver would no more 'ave thought of going out
without Charlie Brice than Charlie Brice would 'ave thought of going out
without 'im. They shared their baccy and their money