ULTON (SOMERSET) AND LONDON

TO

THE CHILDREN OF THE DEAD END

There are Fairies in the city,
There are Fairies on the down,
When Wee Hughie comes from Ireland
To visit London Town.

There is sunshine in the dungeon,
There is starlight in the grave,
If June will but remember
The things that April gave.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE COMING OF THE LODGER 9
II. A DOWNING STREET SENSATION 20
III. THE AIR-RAID 35
IV. THE DUPLICATION OF MR. HEARTY 41
V. THE GATHERING OF THE BANDS 50
VI. MR. GUPPERDUCK'S MISHAP 61
VII. THE COURTING OF THE REV. ANDREW MACFIE 69
VIII. THE CHAPEL CONVERSAZIONE 80
IX. THE LETTING OF NUMBER SIX 95
X. THE DOWNFALL OF MR. JABEZ STIFFSON 105
XI. THE CAMOUFLAGING OF MR. GUPPERDUCK 117
XII. THE TRAGEDY OF GIUSEPPI ANTONIO TOLMENICINO 123
XIII. THE RETURN OF CHARLIE DIXON 135
XIV. MR. HEARTY YIELDS 142
XV. A BILLETING ADVENTURE 150
XVI. MILLIE'S WEDDING 162

_All the characters in this book are entirely imaginary and
have no relation whatsoever to any living persons._

ADVENTURES OF BINDLE

CHAPTER I

THE COMING OF THE LODGER

Bang! Even Bindle was startled by the emphasis with which Mrs.
Bindle placed upon the supper-table a large pie-dish containing
a savoury-smelling stew.

"Anythink wrong?" he enquired solicitously, gazing at Mrs. Bindle
over the top of the evening paper.

"Wrong!" she cried. "Is there anything right?"

"Well, there's beer, an' Beatty, an' the boys wot's fightin'," began
Bindle suggestively.

"Don't talk to me!" Mrs. Bindle banged a plate of stew in front of
Bindle, to which he applied himself earnestly.

For some minutes the only sound was that occasioned by Bindle's
enjoyment of his supper, as he proceeded to read the newspaper propped
up in front of him.

"You're nice company, aren't you?" cried Mrs. Bindle, making