rowned at and scorned as to have been
rendered morally unable to handle his current balance. He instructs us...."

But why relate the story in all its grim horror? Enough to say that so
successfully did COX AND CO. pursue their instructions that they discovered
a credit balance in my favour of 14s. 3d.; so politely and firmly did they
conduct the correspondence that eventually Box and Co. burst into tears,
admitted the claim and, upon my calling the other day personally to receive
satisfaction, handed me the 14s. 3d. with a deferential bow. If you doubt
the truth of this statement you have only to come round to my place, where
you can see for yourself the threepence, which is still in my possession.

Yours ever,

HENRY.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Fusser._ "I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST HOW MUCH THIS TRAIN IS
OVERDUE."

_Cynic._ "A WATCH AIN'T NO GOOD--WHAT YOU WANT IS A HALMANACK."]

* * * * *

DAY BY DAY IN THE WORLD OF CRIME.

(_By a well-known Professor of Larceny._)

In these days when robbery with violence is an everyday occurence, few
people will trust themselves alone in railway carriages. Imagine,
therefore, my surprise, not unmingled with pleasure, on seeing a somewhat
pompous-looking individual, with the circumference and watch-chain of the
successful merchant, sitting alone in a first-class carriage on the
suburban up-line from Wallingford. I always travel from Wallingford, as it
is the one station on the line at which you are not required to show a
ticket on entry. Accordingly I entered the old gentleman's carriage, took
his ticket, and offered him a cigarette, which he accepted. I then opened
the conversation.

"I wonder you wear your watch-chain so prominently," I remarked,
"especially during the present vogue of crime--so tempting, you know."

"Ah!" he said, "so you may think; but, being a bit of a criminologist, I
have arranged that as a little trap. It is my belief that the pickpocket,
foiled in one particular, never attempts to rob his victim in any other
way. Now this chain cost me precisely ninepence. It is weighted at each end
with a piece of lead, which gives an appearance of genuineness to the
watch-pocket. I am heavily armed, in case he should attempt violence."

It was here that I removed his pocket-book and slipped it into my
great-coat. Not daring to examine it openly, I fingered it cautiously, and
felt the stiff softne