himself at last. But it was a bitter hour
for him. Life in the music-shop would fall very flat after this; he
would be dishonored before his only friends, the unworthy hobbledehoys
who were to have joined his gang; he could not tell them what had
happened, not at least until he had invented some less inglorious part
for himself, and that was a difficulty in view of newspaper reports of
the sticking-up. He could scarcely tell them a true word of what had
passed between himself and Stingaree. If only he might yet grow more
like the master! If only he might still hope to follow so sublime a
lead!

Thus aspiring, vainly as now he knew, Oswald Melvin rode slowly back
into the excited town, and past the lighted police-barracks, in the
innocence of that portion of his heart. But one had flown like the wind
ahead of him, and two in uniform, followed by that one, dashed out on
Oswald and the old white screw.

"Surrender!" sang out one.

"In the Queen's name!" added the other.

"Call yourself Stingaree!" panted the runner.

Our egoist was quick enough to grasp their meaning, but quicker still to
see and to seize the chance of a crazy lifetime. Always acute where his
own vanity was touched, his promptitude was for once on a par with his
perceptions.

"Had your eye on me long?" he inquired, delightfully, as he dismounted.

"Long enough," said one policeman. The other was busy plucking loaded
revolvers from the desperado's pockets. A crowd had formed.

"If you're looking for the loot," he went on, raising his voice for the
benefit of all, "you may look. _I_ sha'n't tell you, and it'll take you
all your time!"

But a surprise was in store for prisoner and police alike. Every stolen
watch and all the missing money were discovered no later than next
morning in the bush quite close to the scene of the outrage. There had
been no attempt to hide them; they lay in a heap, dumped from the
saddle, with no more depreciation than a broken watch-glass. True to
his new character, Oswald learned this development without flinching.
His ready comment was in next day's papers.

"There was nothing worth having," he had maintained, and did not see the
wisdom of the boast until a lawyer called and pointed out that it
contained the nucleus of a strong defence.

"I'll defend myself, thank you," said the inflated fool.

"Then you'll make a mess of it, and deserve all you get. And it would be
a pity to spoil such a good defence."

"What i