ver as he ordered his steak.

On his way home he knocked at the door of the town sergeant, Thomas
Trebilcock, a septuagenarian, more commonly known as Pretty Tommy.
The town sergeant was out in the country, picking mushrooms; but his
youngest granddaughter, who opened the door, promised to send him
along to the mayor's office as soon as ever he returned.

At ten o'clock, or a little later, Pretty Tommy presented himself,
and found Mr Pinsent at his desk engaged in complacent study of a
sheet of manuscript, to which he had just attached his signature.

'I think this will do,' said Mr Pinsent, with a twinkle, and he
recited the composition aloud.

Pretty Tommy, having adjusted his horn spectacles, took the paper and
read it through laboriously.

'You want me to cry it through the town?'

'Certainly. You can fetch your bell, and go along with it at once.'

'Your Worship knows best, o' course.' Pretty Tommy appeared to
hesitate.

'Why, what's wrong with it?'

'Nothin',' said Tommy, after a slow pause and another perusal, 'only
'tis unusual--unusual, and funny at the same time; an' that's always
a risk.' He paused again for a moment, and his face brightened.
'But there!' he said, ''tis a risk you're accustomed to by this
time.'

Half an hour later the sound of the town sergeant's bell at the end
of the street called tradesmen from their benches and housewives from
their kitchens to hear the following proclamation, to which Tommy had
done honour by donning his official robe (of blue, gold-laced) with a
scarlet pelisse and a cocked hat. A majestic figure he made, too,
standing in the middle of the roadway with spectacles on nose, and
the great handbell tucked under his arm--

'O YES! O YES! O YES!

'Take you all notice: that whereas some evil-disposed boys did
last night break into the premises of Samuel Pinsent,
Worshipful Mayor of this Borough, and did rob His Worship of
several valuable pigeons; His Worship hereby offers a reward of
Five Shillings to the parent or parents of any such boy as will
hand him over, that the Mayor may have ten minutes with him in
private. Amen.

'GOD SAVE THE KING!'

Mr Pinsent, seated in his office, heard the bell sounding far up the
street, and chuckled to himself. He chuckled again, peering through
his wire blinds, when Pretty Tommy emerged upon the square outside
and took his stand