eremonies, which even in such a
place the brothers did not fail to observe, the breakfast was finished.

As was frequently the case, Wilkins was the first to be through, and as
soon as he had taken the last mouthful, he took his hat and started for
the store, as if there was something painful in the silence which had
fallen over them. Though left to themselves, the brothers did not resume
the subject they had been discussing before Quirk's appearance, and
though Guly longed to ask about the bruise standing out blue and
prominent on his brother's brow, he could not frame the words with which
to ask the question. He felt, too, that the knowledge might bring him
much more trouble and uneasiness, than the unexplained sight of the
blow, and they passed forth into the street, with linked arms, but
divided hearts, and turned their steps toward the store.

They had gone but a short distance, when Guly's attention was attracted
by a gathering crowd upon the opposite side of the way, and, with a
natural feeling of curiosity, he hastened across the street, accompanied
by Arthur, to discover the cause of the excitement.

What was his astonishment, to see extended upon the pavement, face
downwards, while with his long arms he swept his crutches around him,
like a pair of oars, to keep his tormentors, the boys, away, his old
acquaintance, the dwarf. He had evidently fallen down, and in his
descent had dropped his greasy cap, from which had rolled a few of his
precious picayunes. He either was unable to rise, or else would not do
so, lest while he was engaged in righting himself, the boys should rob
him of his scattered silver. They had gathered about him at his fall,
but he had swung his long crutches so dexterously around him, keeping
his one eye fixed gloatingly upon the bits of change meanwhile, that not
one dared to approach him closer.

The moment Guly's eye fell upon him, he hastened forward with an
exclamation of pity upon his lips, and in spite of the crutches, he
stepped behind the unfortunate old man, and raised him to his feet.
Without hesitation he commanded the boys to leave the picayunes
untouched, placed the cane properly in the dwarf's hand, then restored
to him the cap, and its scattered contents, at the same time adding a
trifle from his own purse, to the little stock.

"Hih, hih!" chuckled the little man, for the first time looking up, as
he received his treasure; "hih, hih."

His one eye, with its odious exp