hat
I find mine, Mr. Thrush."

"Meaning they're the same person?"

"To be sure."

"That this lad is the actual slayer of the man Holdaway?"

"Surely, sir, it's as plain as a pikestaff now?"

"Not to me, Mullins--not to me."

Thrush was twinkling behind his great round goggles.

"Then who do you think has done it, sir?" inquired Mullins, in deferential
derision.

"Ah! that's another matter, my man; but I can tell you whom I hope to get
arrested within another hour!"

Mullins looked as though he could hardly believe his ears; his jaw, black
as a crape hat-band this morning, fell in front of his grimy collar.

"You're actually thinking of arresting some one else?"

"I am--with your permission, Mullins."

"Tell me who it is, sir, for Heaven's sake!"

And with his fattest smile Thrush whispered into an ear that recoiled from
his words as though they had been so many drops of boiling oil.

BOY AND GIRL

Pocket Upton was able to relieve his soul of one load that morning. Dr.
Baumgartner had left the schoolboy to his soap and water, taking the
newspaper with him; but apparently Pocket had followed him down in quicker
time than the other anticipated. At any rate the little lady of the house
was all alone in the dining-room, where Pocket found her boiling eggs on
the gas-fire, and had her to himself for several seconds of which he
wasted none. There was neither grace nor tact in what he said, and his
manner was naturally at its worst, but the penitential torrent came from
his heart, and was only stemmed by the doctor's hasty arrival on the
scene. Miss Platts had not been given time to say a word, but now she
asked Mr. Upton how many minutes he liked his egg boiled, and would not
let him do it himself, but smiled when he told her it was "done to a
shake." Dr. Baumgartner, on the other hand, scowled upon them both until
observation or reflection had convinced him that no promises had been
broken and no confidences exchanged.

The callow pair saw something more of each other during the morning; for
Pocket hotly resented being distrusted, and showed it by making up to the
young girl under the doctor's nose. He talked to her about books in the
other room. He had the impertinence to invite her into the dining-room
for a game of billiards, but the sense next moment to include her uncle in
an amended form of more becoming suggestion. Baumgartner eventually
countenanced a game, but spent most of the t