ent the police would be blamed, and obtain no
credit for their exposure or bravery. The sequel showed that we were
right in our premises. As I said before, the lieutenant was anxious to
see the inspector, but did not care about visiting his office; so we
despatched a note by a passing policeman, requesting Mr. Brown's company
instantly, and advising him to come alone, as we had two suspicious
persons in the store, and we thought that a reward had been offered for
their apprehension, which we were desirous of obtaining. We got Murden's
consent to act in the plot, and by the aid of a wig his disguise was
complete. As for Steel Spring, he was to remain as he was, without
disguise, but was to vehemently deny his cognomen, and puzzle Mr. Brown
if possible.

The instant the inspector got our note he loaded himself with pistols
and started for our store. By the time that he arrived it was dark, but
we had a candle burning that but dimly illuminated the room, and
prevented him from distinguishing objects.

"There are some lodgers that we have for to-night," Fred said, pointing
to Murden and Steel Spring, both of whom sat with their faces from the
light, as though not desirous of attracting attention.

"I am sure it gives me pleasure to meet friends of yours," the inspector
said, with a grim smile; and he rubbed his hands as though already the
capturer of two notorious robbers.

"Who are they?" Mr. Brown asked, in a low whisper, watching every motion
of Murden and Steel Spring, as though he expected a manifestation of
hostility on their part.

"Don't know," replied Fred, in the same tone, "but I suspect that they
are bushrangers."

"Ah, ah, I have no doubt of it," the inspector said. "Have your pistols
handy, for they may resist when I arrest them."

Mr. Brown took a seat, and every opportunity that he could get he would
scrutinize the half-hidden faces of Murden and Steel Spring; but owing
to the light being bad, he was unable to gratify his curiosity. Fred and
myself conversed on various matters, about the yield of gold for the
coming year, and whether the prices of goods would decline before the
wet set in, but Mr. Brown was too anxious for a capture to join us, and
had not the spirit of evil actuated Steel Spring, we should have kept
the inspector in suspense for an hour or two. Steel Spring was too
mercurial to remain dormant for any length of time, and with a desire to
stir Mr. Brown into activity he said, in a car