ne pound, two
arf-crowns, two two-shilling pieces, and two sixpences. My wife and
her sister both saw it there. That they'll swear to."

"Well, wot about it?" ses Sam Jones, staring at 'im.

"Arter my pore wife 'ad begged and prayed Henery Walker on 'er bended
knees to spare 'er life and go," ses Bob Pretty, "she looked at the
mantel-piece and found the money 'ad disappeared."

Henery Walker got up all white and shaking and flung 'is arms about,
trying to get 'is breath.

"Do you mean to say I stole it?" he ses, at last.

"O' course I do," ses Bob Pretty. "Why, you said yourself afore these
witnesses and Mr. Smith that you came to steal the hamper. Wot's the
difference between stealing the hamper and the money I sold it for?"

Henery Walker tried for to answer 'im, but he couldn't speak a word.

"I left my pore wife with 'er apron over her 'ead sobbing as if her 'art
would break," ses Bob Pretty; "not because o' the loss of the money so
much, but to think of Henery Walker doing such a thing--and 'aving to go
to jail for it."

"I never touched your money, and you know it," ses Henery Walker, finding
his breath at last. I don't believe it was there. You and your wife 'ud
swear anything."

"As you please, Henery," ses Bob Pretty. "Only I'm going straight off to
Cudford to see Policeman White; he'll be glad of a job, I know. There's
three of us to swear to it, and you was found under my bed."

"Let bygones be bygones, Bob," ses Bill Chambers, trying to smile at 'im.

"No, mate," ses Bob Pretty. "I'm going to 'ave my rights, but I don't
want to be 'ard on a man I've known all my life; and if, afore I go to my
bed to-night, the thirty shillings is brought to me, I won't say as I
won't look over it."

He stood for a moment shaking his 'ead at them, and then, still holding
it very 'igh, he turned round and walked out.

"He never left no money on the mantelpiece," ses Sam Jones, at last.

"Don't you believe it. You go to jail, Henery."

"Anything sooner than be done by Bob Pretty," ses George Kettle.

"There's not much doing now, Henery," ses Bill Chambers, in a soft voice.

Henery Walker wouldn't listen to 'em, and he jumped up and carried on
like a madman. His idea was for 'em all to club together to pay the
money, and to borrow it from Smith, the landlord, to go on with. They
wouldn't 'ear of it at fust, but arter Smith 'ad pointed out that they
might 'ave to go to jail with Henery, and said thi