would not repeat, and would not suffer Matty to
repeat, to any one, what he told him, said,--

"They had some poisoning done, round to Mr. Livingstone's, an' Jim and
Miss Amy was mixed up in it. They did the poisoning; but 'twas found
out in time, an' their folks hushed it up. But _I_ know it, an' I'm
goin' to set the police on them unless some one would make it worth my
while not to. Five dollars would buy me off; but there's no one I know
of, would give me five dollars, so I'm goin' to tell."

Street Arab though he was, with his wits sharpened into preternatural
acuteness in some respects, in others Tony was guileless and easily
imposed upon; and for a moment he stared at Theodore in dismay, but
presently doubt and suspicion again obtained the upper hand.

"I don't take no stock in that," he said; "it's a lie, I know. I'll ask
Jim himself."

"If you let on to him what I've told you, I'll tell the police for
certain, whether or no," said Theodore; "but if anybody was to say
they'd give me five dollars, an' you don't tell Jim, I'll never say a
word."

And he walked away, leaving his words to take what effect they might.
That they had already taken effect, he saw, as Matty, who had not
spoken a word all this time, drew the beautiful, shining tresses in
front of her, and passed her skinny little hands lovingly over them.
Tony stood staring stupidly after him for a moment, then burst out at
him with a torrent of abuse and threats which Theodore did not deign to
answer.

That evening about dusk, when Tony and Matty came to our house to
render up the day's account to Jim, after they had settled business,
Tony asked in a mysterious whisper, and half as if he feared to put the
question,--

"Jim, tell us; has you got a secret you don't want any one to know?"

By the light of the gas-jet, beneath which they stood, in the basement
hall, Tony saw the color rush in a flood to Jim's face, and an angry
light came into his eye, as he answered roughly,--

"'Tain't none of your business if I have; you let my secrets alone."

Tony was a little frightened, but he persisted,--

"But tell us; did you and yer young lady, her what's good to us, did
you once get mixed up wid pisenin' some folks, an' it was kept dark
so's the----"

"Now you shut up an' clear out quick, you little rascal!" shouted Jim
furiously. "If you come Paul Pryin' round here, a-tryin' to find out my
secrets, me an' you will fall out, an' you'll get no more h