niece
Millie," he added to the youth who, staring in utter bewilderment from
Bindle to Millie, stood with downcast head.

"Goin' in to see the pictures?" Bindle enquired casually.

"Er--no--er--yes, of course," stuttered the youth.

"Nice evenin' for pictures," continued Bindle, thoroughly enjoying the
situation. "Don't yer think so?" he added, as the youth did not reply.

"Yes, very."

"Now you an' me's ole pals, but I've quite forgot yer name. Is it
'Orace?"

"Dixon, Charlie Dixon." A faint smile flickered across the young man's
face as he caught Millie's eye. He was beginning to realise that
somewhere in this astonishing adventure there was fun, and that Bindle
had been first to see it.

For some seconds Bindle, who was a shrewd judge of character, regarded
the young man. He was obviously nervous, but his grey eyes looked out
honestly from a rather pleasant face into those of Bindle.

Suddenly he laughed. Millie looked from one to the other, her pretty
brows puckered. The situation was obviously beyond her.

"Uncle, I want to speak to you, _please_." Millie's voice was scarcely
audible.

"All right, my dear, we'll go and buy the tickets. You wait here,
young feller," he added. "We'll be back in two ticks."

When out of earshot Millie whispered shyly, "That's Charlie Dixon, and
we--we like each other, and I'm--I'm a wicked girl, Uncle Joe. I told
him to be here and----"

"That's all right, Millikins, don't you worry."

Millie gave his arm an ecstatic squeeze as he left her to purchase the
tickets.

When Bindle and his niece rejoined Charlie Dixon Bindle's mind was made
up. He liked the look of the young man. He also remembered his own
youth, and a glance at the happy face of his niece decided him upon his
course of action.

"'Ow long 'ave yer known each other?" he enquired.

"More than six months," replied Charlie Dixon.

"Seems a lifetime, eh?" he grinned.

"I knew you'd understand, dear Uncle Joe," whispered the now radiant
Millie.

"Look 'ere," said Bindle to Charlie Dixon, "I jest remembered I got to
see a mate round the corner. You two go in wi' these tickets and I'll
follow in ten minutes. If I misses yer, be 'ere in this 'all at ten
sharp. See?"

They both saw, and exchanged rapturous glances.

"Mind, ten sharp, or I'll get the sack."

"Thank you, Mr. Bindle," said Charlie Dixon, raising his hat, to which
Bindle responded with an elaborate sweep that brought a smile