anded, grown restive under Pip's accusing gaze.

"You, of course!"

"But I haven't been up to any game."

"You can't stuff me with that kind of talk, 'cause I've got it down
here in black an' white."

"Got what down?" Tim asked impatiently. "If there's anything wrong,
why don't you come out with it like a man, an' not stand there like a
dummy?"

"Seth Barrows will find there's somethin' wrong when the whole perlice
force of this city gets after him," Pip replied, in what was very like
a threatening tone. "Listen to this, Tim Chandler, an' try to figger
out the kind of a game Limpy's been playin'!"

Then, with a tragical air, Master Smith read slowly from the newspaper
he had been brandishing, the following advertisement:

"INFORMATION WANTED of a boy calling himself Seth Barrows. Said
boy is about eleven years old; his left leg an inch shorter than
the right, and is known to have been living in Jersey City three
years ago. He then sold newspapers for a livelihood, and resided
with one Richard Genet. A liberal reward will be paid for any
information concerning him. Address Symonds & Symonds,
Attorneys-at-law."

As he ceased reading, Master Smith looked at his companions with a
certain gleam of triumph in his eyes; but this expression quickly
changed to one of severe reproof as he met Seth's bewildered gaze.

"Sellin' papers is good enough for me, though it ain't a business that
brings in any too much money," he said sharply. "But I don't keep a
fancy dog, so the cost of livin' ain't so high."

"What does it mean?" Seth asked in a low tone, as he gazed alternately
at Tim and Pip.

"Mean?" the latter replied scornfully. "I reckon you can answer that
better'n we could. When the bank on Broadway was broke into there was
the same kind of notice in the papers, for I saw it with my own eyes."

"But I haven't been breakin' into any bank!" Seth wailed, hugging Snip
yet more tightly to his bosom.

"Then what's that advertisement there for?" and Master Smith looked
upon his acquaintance with an air of judicial severity.

"How do I know?"

Now it was Tim's turn to gaze at Seth reproachfully; and as the three
stood there one and another of their acquaintances, having heard the
startling news, came up eagerly curious and positive that Snip's
master had committed some terrible crime.

The lame boy gave ample token of mental distress, as well he might
after hearing that two attorneys-at-l