ng you 'arf-pints.'

"'It's him right enough,' ses Ginger. 'I'd know 'is ugly face anywhere.'

"'You come off 'ome at once,' ses Sam, very sharp, but his voice
trembling. 'At once. D'ye hear me?'

"'Fetch a policeman, Peter,' ses Ginger.

"'Let the pore feller go, I tell you,' ses Sam, stamping his foot. ''Ow
would you like to be locked up? 'Ow would you like to be torn away from
your wife and little ones? 'Ow would you--'

"'Fetch a policeman, Peter,' ses Ginger agin. 'D'ye hear?'

"'Don't do that, guv'nor,' ses the lodger. 'You got your money back.
Wot's the good o' putting me away?'

"'Got our wot back?' ses Ginger, shaking 'im agin. 'Don't you try and be
funny with me, else I'll tear you into little pieces.'

"'But he took it back,' ses the man, trying to sit up and pointing at
Sam. 'He follered me downstairs and took it all away from me. Your
ticker as well.'

"'Wot?' ses Ginger and Peter both together.

"Strue as I'm 'ere,' ses the lodger. 'You turn 'is pockets out and see.
Look out! He's going off!'

"Ginger turned his 'ead just in time to see old Sam nipping round the
corner. He pulled the lodger up like a flash, and, telling Peter to take
hold of the other side of him, they set off arter Sam.

"'Little-joke-o' mine-Ginger,' ses Sam, when they caught 'im. 'I was
going to tell you about it to-night. It ain't often I get the chance of
a joke agin you Ginger; you're too sharp for a old man like me.'

"Ginger Dick didn't say anything. He kept 'old o' Sam's arm with one
hand and the lodger's neck with the other, and marched 'em off to his
lodgings.

"He shut the door when 'e got in, and arter Peter 'ad lit the candle they
took hold o' Sam and went through 'im, and arter trying to find pockets
where he 'adn't got any, they took off 'is belt and found Ginger's watch,
seventeen pounds five shillings, and a few coppers.

"'We 'ad over nine quid each, me and Peter,' ses Ginger. 'Where's the
rest?'

"'It's all I've got left,' ses Sam; 'every ha'penny.'

"He 'ad to undress and even take 'is boots off afore they'd believe 'im,
and then Ginger took 'is watch and he ses to Peter, 'Lemme see; 'arf of
seventeen pounds is eight pounds ten; 'arf of five shillings is
'arf-a-crown; and 'arf of fourpence is twopence.'

"'What about me Ginger old pal?' ses Sam, in a kind voice. 'We must
divide it into threes.'

"'Threes?' ses Ginger, staring at'im. 'Whaffor?'

"''Cos part of it's mine,' ses