Harding's luck

oarse sheets in a hard, narrow bed,

ikewise yer boots," was the last inst

little gridirons or pans that they unrolled from the strange bundles that were their luggage. One man who had no gridiron cooked a piece of steak on the kitchen ton

ly fellows the tramps were; for it seemed that all these nice people were "on the road," and this place where the kitchen was, and the good co

asleep, and if, later in the evening, there were loud-vo

e been made, Dickie thought, for very fat twins, it was so broad and roomy. Artfully piled on the front part was all the furniture needed by

ng to the odd knobbly bundles of all sorts an

t we'll want on th

llowy bundle

a lift-why, here's your carriage, and you can sit up 'ere and ride like the Lord Mayor, and I'll be yer horse;

ing his crutch firmly and putting his hand into

elplessly. Then, "Doe

y said I'd be able to walk to rights if I wore that

u sing out when you get tir

said Dickie-

th their tendrils and leaves laid flat to the dry earth by the wayside, and in a water-m

s with the pink ones,

ie directl

alive," said Dickie, as he had said t

barley stood in sheaves-real barley, like the people next door but three gave to their hens; the woodland shadows and the lights of sudden water; shoulders of brown upland pressed against the open sky; the shrill thrill of the skylark's song, "like canary birds got loose"; the splendor of distance-you never see distance in Deptford; the magpie that perched on a stump and cocked a bright eye at the travellers; the thing that rustled a long length through dead le

sittin' down," he added, laying the crutch across the front of the perambulator. "Never see such

ppiness. A rabbit. Like the ones that his f

to scramble out of the perambulator;

ves out 'ere with 'is little friendses," he added after a violent effort of ima

life of the rabbit, as described by Mr. Beale, was the ch

"Steady on, mate. 'Ow'm I to wheel the bloomin' pra

grass, made a fire of sticks, and cooked herrings in

ckie; "and I do like you. I like you next

ht," said Mr. B

way up a hill, they saw coming over

ou can, and if they arsts you you say you ain't 'ad nothing

said Dickie, en

you call m

ness in the most spirited way. It was acti

nd the little girl drew near he stopped altogether and

humbly, "to 'elp us along the road? My little chap, 'e's lame

home with his mot

coat sleeve a

was, and struck to her innards. She died in the infirmary. Three mont

e sni

d the lady; "you miss

ver, 'e's very good to me. I couldn

ttle 'un!" said Mr

d, "and where we'll lie to-night gracious only kno

r pocket, and the litt

re all y

re at 'ome; one of them's silver-real silver-m

n't to be begging," said the lady,

," said Dickie, "and farver k

uldn't go to take away the nipper's little bit o' pleasure, not for

FOR A SHILLIN'

ag

nd father,"

d the little girl. "May I gi

derful good fortune-a whole half-crown. They exchanged such glances as might pass

d Beale-"fine, you did. You

aid Dickie; "'er

rpiece, you are; you earned it honest if ever a kid done. Pats you on the n

hill as happy as any

cts, they were bubbling over with merriment and delight at their own cleverness. Please do not be too shocked. Remember that neither of them knew any bette

ey had seven-

Beale. "Swelp me Bob, we'll be ridin' in our ow

d with the green cur

Which this ain't, not by no means. There's a 'aystack a

he hedges, the barking of dogs in distant farms, the chirp of crickets and the croaking of frogs. And in the morning the birds wake you, and you curl down warm among the hay and look up at the sky that is gr

while to beg went on gaily, day by day and week by week; and Dickie, by constant practice, g

such a nipper," he sa

n hanging off and on expecting them for nigh on a week, Mr. Beale sent Dickie into a field to look for mushrooms-which didn'

re afore. Couldn

'e is; 'e a

r 'and. Clever as a traindawg 'e is-an' all outer 'is own 'ead. And to 'ear the way 'e does the patter to me on the road. It's as good

ll, eh?"

long some'ow. An' 'e's got so red in the face, and plum

said the red-whisk

Then he spat though

market. If 'e gets a bit fat 'e makes it up in cleverness. You should 'ear

ut this 'ere extry double nipper. I

andor, "it's 'is cleverness does me. It ain't

to do wot 'e's told. Keep

n away somewhere-it only pops for a bob-and d'you think 'e'll tell me where it's stowed? Not '

articler, and settle up about this 'ere job. I got the plan drawed out. It's a easy job as ever I see. Seems to me Tuesday's as good a day as any. Tip-topper-Sir Edward Talbot, that's 'im-'e's in fu

ithout mushrooms, the re

e just now?" s

" said

ver see 'im, you never set eyes on 'im in all your born

said Dic

o neither! Us two on the

t '

e dooks-an' after that we're a-goin' to '

u jes' wait;" "hold on a bit;" "them as lives longest sees most"-these w

e train like dukes. Nor was it Sunday, on which they took a rest

ne, and its bow-windows and balconies were green, and Dickie thought it was the prettiest town in the world. They did not stay there, but walke

t there?" s

ike wot the King'

lives 'ere, the

aid Mr. Beale. "It's a ruin, this is.

ne ever li

s, course they must 'ave, come to think of it. But you

flection, said, "D'je

a Jake W

a bloke you'd know-'e's in '

in a hollow place among thick furze bushes. The bare, thick stems of the furze hel

oap. It was great fun, and, afterwards, Mr. Beale looked quite different. That was great fun too. And he got

see 'e'll lift you up to a window what's got bars to it, and you'll creep through, you being so little, and you'll go soft's a mouse the way I'll show you, a

. "What should it

. Beale a little embarrassed. "

pinch me

ady, or somebody in the 'ouse. Suppose

tching his fa

tells me to

apped his

tion. An' if they comes arter you, you say you're a-goin' to your father at Dover. And first chance you get you slip off, and you come to that 'ouse where you and me slep'

don't ge

door and me and that redh

r?" aske

'e was on a plumbing job-and they won't let 'im 'ave th

y. "I ain't a baby. It's b

e a good boy, matey, and do what you're told. That's what you do. You know 'ow to stick it on if you'

bbed, what is

father in the town, and this chap said he knew where 'e was, and if you see me you don't know me. Nor yet that redheaded chap wot you never see." He looked down at the small, earnest face turned up to hi

bold knight. I shall feel like Here Ward when he dress

in the bo

'em like that if they pinches you; they'd never let you loose

oud of being so trusted. If you come to think of it, burgling must be a very exciting profession. A

mong the thick stems of the grass Mr.

w that's wot I got him for-all right. But 'e's such a jolly little

as usual, and in the middle of the night M

vided itself into two parts and one part came surprisingly towards them. It turned out to be the red-whiskered man, and presently from a ditch another man came. And they all climbed a chill, damp park

dotted with trees that were like shadows too. And on the other side of it the white face of a g

helter of the trees ended, for a little

fast. Quite soon, now, his par

red-whiskered man took Dickie in his arms, and

mself on the broad window-ledge and held on to the iron window-bars while the red-whiskered man took out a pane of glass, with treacle and a handkerchief, so that there should be no noise of breaking or falling glass. Then Dickie put his hand through and unfastened the wind

r was, and when he had crept to it and got it open he found that he now knew quite well which way to turn and what passages to go along to get to that little side-door that he was to op

ey would hear it, even up-stairs in their beds. But he got to the little side-door, and feeling with sensitive, quick fingers found the well-oiled bolt, and shot it back. Then the chain-holding the loose loop of it in his hand so that it should not rattle, he slipped its ball from the socket

almost bursting with pride. What an adventure! And he had carried out his part of it perfectly. He had done exactly what he had been told to do, and he had done it well. He stood there, on hi

ind of pride that made that cleverness seem shameful. He had a feeling, very queer and very strong, that he, Dickie, was not the sort of person to open doors for the letting in of burg

third shape tha

it. Go back, and I'll fasten it

Dickie knew his voice even in that velvet-black da

ickie, and said it all

s, matey," said Mr. Beale;

hose of padded pussy-feet. Then the soft rustle-pad died away, and it was perfectly quiet, perfectly dark. Dickie was tired; it was long past his proper bedtime, and the exertion of being so extra clever had been very tiring. He was almost asleep when a crack like thunder brought him stark, staring awake-there was a noise of feet on the stairs, boots, a

n't! Let them go

lady in white, carrying a lamp, swept down the stairs and caught a

hen with unbelievable quickness she bolted and cha

Edward, quick-here's one of

Their clothes were oddly bright. Dickie had never seen dressing-gowns before.

of people and lights and wonderful furniture, with some one holding a gla

ckie, turning

Dickie was astonished to f

back again because that was so much more pleasant. He ha

was not a lady's, "just you tell us how

ndow," and as he said it he wondered how he had known that it w

me from a gentleman in rumpled hair and a very loose pink

moment he had been so carefully prepar

ll right-poor little chap, don't be

tened," said D

minded the lad

t the

at

dun

of them," said the gentlem

ar?" the lady

so I went along of 'im, an' then in the wood 'e said 'e'd give me a dressing down if I didn't get throu

t know. He's perfectly innocent." And she

e were going to choke. His head felt as though it were going to

suddenly and hoarsely; "an' I nee

, "he doesn't know what he's s

ie; "I thought it 'ud be

had it under his arm. How could he get to Gravesend without a crutch? But he wasn't sha

shan't ask him any more questions to-ni

here was a high four-post bed with blue silk curtains and more pillows than Dickie had ever seen before. The lady washed him with sweet-smelling water in a b

was like a giant's pillow, tucked him up and k

" he said, "but

this milk"-she had it ready in a glass that sparkled in a patte

ie, sleepily, "bless you

turning to her husband. "I can't think who it i

hing to be done," said her husband. "W

get anythin

. Come on, let's turn in. Poor

opt that little boy. I'm sure he comes of go

r silly one!" s

sunk downily among pillows, and over him lay a down quilt covered with blue-flowere

pestry-covered chair. And he slept, and dreamed of Mr. Beale, and t