which he could lay claim.

After the manner of those who have fixed their minds upon that to which
they have no right, the more the unprincipled Theodore thought of the
mint of money, as he called it, upon Matty's head, the more he wished
that he could find the means to possess himself of the material to be
so easily turned into that money; and he finally arranged a plan which
he thought both practicable and safe.

"Matildy Jane," whose theory it was that there were no articles of diet
in New York "fit for plain folks to eat," and who believed that her
father and mother would return home only to die victims to indigestion
brought on by high living, had sent, by the hands of a friend who came
to the city, a large basket of apple turnovers and ginger cookies, in
order that her parents might have "a taste of home cookin'."

Slyly possessing himself of two of these turnovers and sundry cookies,
Theodore thought to make his peace with Tony and Matty by bestowing
them upon them, as an equivalent for the stolen peanuts; and having
ascertained when Dutch Johnny was off on another purchasing expedition,
and Tony left in charge, he hurried home, and came back to the
florist's shop with these delectable viands.

No sooner did Tony see him than he warned him off, threatening to call
the police if Theodore came any nearer; but the latter hastened to
propitiate him by holding up the turnovers and saying,--

"Oh, I came to make up. Don't make a row."

Now, if there was any thing in which the soul of Tony delighted, it was
an apple pasty of any shape or dimensions; and the tempter had
unwittingly chosen his bait well.

Tony's threats and denunciations ceased, and he sat staring at the
proffered treat; while Theodore, seeing it was taking effect, drew a
few steps nearer.

"Don't you want 'em?" he said. "I've got one for you, and one for
Matty; and I've got some ginger-cakes, too."

Warned by past experience, Tony grasped his crutches, and, still
expecting some trick, sat dubious, with his eyes fixed as if fascinated
upon the coveted dainties, but still more than half inclined to call to
the policeman, whom he saw upon the upper corner.

"Oh, come now!" repeated Theodore; "make up. Don't you want 'em?
They're first-rate."

The temptation proved irresistible; and, rising to his feet, Tony went
toward his whilom antagonist in order to prevent him from coming too
near the stand, accepted one of the turnovers, looked at it on a