of time and difficulty,
involving more pains-taking than pleasure--often set him to amuse them
in this way in the evening.

"Madison Avenue" to Captain Yorke was comprised in the block on which
our house was situated; and the curiosity of the old man being
insatiable, he had never rested until he had located the house. By dint
of questioning Thomas and the other servants, he soon learned all there
was to know, and was greatly excited and very wrathy when he heard the
truth. He repeated this to his wife and grandson, bidding them never to
say a word about it, as the family had been much annoyed and
displeased. Theodore, however, had once ventured to ask Jim about the
matter, and had been met by such a burst of fury that he had never
ventured to speak of it again to him. Not for fear of offending Jim,
however, but because he dreaded the anger of his grandfather, should
Jim complain, as he threatened to do, to the old man; for Jim would
have told in this case on my account.

But it answered Theodore's purpose when he set himself to work to
devise means to obtain the five dollars he coveted. He had aroused the
fears of these ignorant children for those who had been kind to them,
and having been convinced by Jim's behavior that it was all true, Tony
had proposed what indeed had been in Matty's mind before, that she
should sell her hair, and so buy Theodore's silence. Matty had agreed;
and that morning, before they had made their appearance at the
florist's, they had gone to a barber's, and, with small worldly wisdom,
Tony had demanded if he would give five dollars for Matty's hair.

Gazing with astonishment and delight at the mine of wealth displayed
for his approbation, the barber drew the long silky tresses through his
fingers, and closed the bargain at once, as well he might, supposing
him to be possessed of neither heart nor conscience. Matty's head was
expeditiously shorn, and the proceeds of the unrighteous sale were put
into Tony's hands; for he had appeared as the speaking partner
throughout the transaction, Matty maintaining the usual impassive,
sullen silence, so seldom broken save for her brother and the
Petersens.

The next thing to do was to see Theodore and to hand him the money; and
being in haste to do this before he should have time to give the
dreaded information to the police, Tony went to the boarding-place
which was his home at present, Matty waiting for her brother on the
neighboring corner, and a