ily to the ground. The guardian of the
night immediately jumped up uninjured, but Bones lay prone on the green
sward--stunned by the bell.

"That's well done, anyhow, an' saved me a world o' trouble," said the
constable, looking up at the window as he held the burglar down, though
there was little necessity for that. "You couldn't shy me over a bit of
rope, could you, ma'am?"

Miss Stivergill, to whom nothing seemed difficult, and who had by that
time stopped her share in the noise, went into a cupboard and fetched
thence a coil of rope.

"I meant it to be used in the event of fire," she said quietly to her
friend, who had thrown herself flat on her bed, "but it will serve other
purposes as well.--There, policeman."

She threw it down, and when Bones recovered consciousness he found
himself securely tied and seated in a chair in the Rosebud kitchen--the
policeman looking at him with interest, and the domestics with alarm.
Miss Stivergill regarded him with calm severity.

"Now he's quite safe, ma'am, but I can't venture to take 'im to the
station alone. If you'll kindly consent to keep an eye on him, ma'am,
till I run down for a comrade, I'll be greatly obleeged. There's no
fear of his wrigglin' out o' that, ma'am; you may make your mind easy."

"My mind is quite easy, policeman; you may go. I shall watch him."

When the man had left, Miss Stivergill ordered the servants to leave the
kitchen. Little Pax, who had discreetly kept out of range of the
burglar's eye, went with them, a good deal depressed in spirit, for his
mission had failed. The burglary had not indeed, been accomplished,
but--"father" was "took."

When Miss Stivergill was left alone with the burglar she gazed at him
for some time in silence.

"Man," she said at length, "you are little Bones's father."

"If you means Tottie, ma'am, I is," replied Bones, with a look and tone
which were not amiable.

"I have a strong feeling of regard for your child, though not a scrap of
pity for yourself," said Miss Stivergill, with a frown.

Mr Bones muttered something to the effect that he returned the
compliment with interest.

"For Tottie's sake I should be sorry to see you transported," continued
the lady, "therefore I mean to let you off. Moreover, bad as you are, I
believe you are not so bad as many people would think you. Therefore
I'm going to trust you."

Bones looked inquiringly and with some suspicion at his captor. He
evidently though