fell into the net, and though he did not
commit himself then, it was not long before he came to me, and
deliberately requested my assistance in disposing of some bonds which he
was smart enough to acquire, but not daring enough to attempt to sell.
Of course the whole story came out, and I was sympathetic enough till I
got the bonds into my hands, then--But I leave you to imagine what
followed. Enough that I wrung this confession from him, and that in
consideration of the doubtful game I had played upon him, let him go
where he is by this time beyond the chance of pursuit."

"But your duty to your superior; your oath as a member of the force?"

"My superior is here!" said the man pointing to Mr. Sylvester; "an
unconscious one I own, but still my superior; and as for my being a
member of the force, that was true five years ago, but not to-day." And
brushing off his whiskers with one hand and taking off his goggles with
the other, Hopgood, the janitor, stood before them!

* * * * *

It was a radiant figure that met Cicely, when she came down stairs with
Paula, and a joyous group that soon surrounded the now blushing and
embarrassed janitor, with questions and remarks concerning this great
and unexpected development of affairs. But the fervor with which Mr.
Stuyvesant clasped Bertram's hand, and the look with which Cicely turned
from her young lover to bestow a final kiss upon the departing bride,
was worth all the pains and self-denial of the last few weeks--or so the
janitor thought, who with a quicker comprehension than usual, had
divined the situation and rejoiced in the result. But the most curious
thing of all was to observe how, with the taking off of his goggles,
Hopgood had relapsed into his old shrinking, easily embarrassed self.
The man who but a few minutes before had related in their hearing a
clear and succinct narrative, now shrank if a question was put him, and
stammered in quite his ancient fashion, when he answered Mr. Sylvester's
shake of the hand, by a hurried:

"I am going to see my wife now, sir. She's a good woman, if a little
flighty, and will be the last one in the future to beg me to put more
confidence in her. Will you tell me where she is, sir?"

Mr. Sylvester informed him; then added, "But look here, Hopgood, answer
me one thing before you go. Why is it that with such talents as you
possess, you didn't stay in the police force? You are a regular genius
in